Daughter of Earth and Water

On the move ...

2011-01-27T06:29:00.000-04:00

I was trying to update my Blogger template and I was getting error after error.

After trying to figure out the problem, I just gave up and moved over here to a WordPress installation.

Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds accordingly. :)

Celtic Tree Month of Rowan

2011-01-21T00:03:00.001-04:00

* 2nd Moon of the Celtic Year - (Jan 22 - Feb 18)

* Latin name: Rowan/American Mountain Ash - sorbus americana; Rowan/European Mountain Ash - sorbus aucuparia

* Celtic name: Luis (pronounced: loush)

* Folk or Common names: Mountain Ash, Ran Tree, Witchwood Tree, Quickbeam, The Witch or Witch Wand Tree, Whispering Tree, Sorb-Apple, Service Tree

* Parts Used: Wood, berries. Caution: do not eat the seeds.

* Herbal usage: Rowan bark has astringent qualities and can be used as a decoction for helping cure irritable bowels. Rowan berries can be made into a juice which can be used as a laxative. The berries are also an important food for grouse, cedar waxwings, grosbeaks and other hungry birds.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with the month of Rowan is the duck. The Druid Dhubh (Blackbird) also has an association with the Rowan tree since Blackbirds are fond of Rowan berries. Since each Rowan berry carries a minute pentagram, eating these berries is said to give the blackbird the ability to connect us with his healing song to the balancing and regenerative powers of the Otherworld and the Unconscious.

The Celtic symbol of the month of Rowan is the Green Dragon. The color is red, and the gemstone is yellow chrysolite or the ruby. The Rowan is a Masculine herb that is associated with the element of fire, and is a tree of the sun and the planet Uranus. The tree is sacred to the deities of Rowan, Thor and Brighid (triple goddess of inspiration, healing and smithcraft). Rowan is also sacred to Oeagrus (father of Orpheus, who belonged to the sorb-apple cult) and to the White Goddess Aphrodite; Akka/Mader-Akka/Rauni (Finnish goddess of the harvest and of female sexuality); and the river goddess Halys/Alys/Elis (Queen of the Eleusine Islands).

Irish Druids held Rowan trees sacred like Oaks and sometimes called it the 'Tree of Life'. Rowan wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane. In folklore the Rowan is regarded as the godmother of milk cows. When a calf is due to be named, the farmer goes to the wood before daybreak to cut a Rowan branch with a piece of copper just as the sun rises. He smacks the calf on the back with it and calls it by its name. After that he tethers it to the cowshed door, decorated with white ribbons and eggshells, and the calf stays safe and well. The Rowan is a favorite tree of the Otherkin. A Slavic tree spirit known as Musail, the forest tsar, king of the forest spirits, is associated with the Rowan tree. Rowan also has a vampiric association since it is, along with Garlic and Hawthorn, one of the most popular herbal vampire repellents.

* Magickal usage: The month of Rowan is a good time to do initiations, especially during Imbolc. The Rowan has applications in magick done for divination, astral work, strength, protection, initiation, healing, psychic energies, working with spirits of the dead, psychic powers, personal power, and success.

Uses of Rowan in protective magick include carrying Rowan twigs on sea voyages to protect the ship from storms. A Rowan can be planted near a new house to protect it from lightning and evil influences. Walking sticks made of Rowan will protect there user from harm. A charm made of two small twigs of Rowan wood tied together to form a cross using red thread or yarn can be carried to protect against bad spirits. Its branches were used by Norsemen as rune-staves upon which to carve runes of protection. The Celts believed that no witches or evil spirits could cross a door over which a branch of Rowan had been nailed.

In some legends, the Rowan has also been called the whispering tree because it has secrets to tell to those who will listen. Rowans also can be planted on graves to prevent the haunting of the place by the dead. In Ireland, a Rowan stake was sometimes hammered through a corpse to immobilize the spirit. In ancient Ireland, the Druids of opposing forces would kindle a fire of Rowan and say an incantation over it to summon spirits to take part in the battle.

Should you happen upon a flourishing Rowan which is most bountifully hung with cluster upon cluster of delicate red berries, then you may be sure that some saintly soul lies buried close by. Rowan is often called The Wizard Tree or The Witch Tree, partly because Rowan berries have a small pentagram at the point where they are joined to the stalk. Indeed, Rowan berries were often regarded as magickal and were the food of the Tuatha De Danaan.

As attractive as Rowan is to the Fey, Rowan wood is often used in butter churns so that the butter would not be overlooked by evil Faeries. In Scotland, fires made from rowan wood were used to protect the cattle against those same type of evil fairy spirits, and it is said that 'Bewitched' horses may be controlled by a Rowan whip. Witch-wands for divining metal are often made of Rowan wood, and Rowan branches may be used to dowse for water or can be made into wands. The best time to harvest a Rowan branch for a wand or staff is at Beltane. Remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

2010-12-24T00:02:00.001-04:00

* 1st Moon of the Celtic Year - (Dec 24 - Jan 21)

* Latin name: Yellow birch - betula alleghaniensis; black birch - betula lenta; canoe or common birch - betula papyrifea.

* Celtic name: Beth (pronounced: beh)

* Folk or Common names: Beithe, Bereza, Berke, Beth, Bouleau, Lady of the Woods, Birth, Canoe Tree, Paper Tree, Silver Birch, White Birch. "Birch" is derived from the meaning "Bright" or "Shining" in Indo-European and Sanskrit terminology. Quite possibly it came from the Anglo-Saxon term "Beorgan" meaning "to protect or shelter"

* Parts Used: Leaves, bark, wood, sap, branches.

* Herbal usage: Birch leaves can be used to make an infusion that is good for breaking up kidney or bladder stones. Birch bark is an astringent and can be used to treat non-hereditary baldness. Birch tea can be made from the inner bark and leaves and this is good for rheumatism or as a sedative to aid sleep. Birch sap can be harvested the same way maple sap is, and then boiled down into birch syrup.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with the Month of the Birch is the pheasant. Birch's color is white, its day is Sunday and its gemstone is red chard. The Celtic symbol of Birch is the White Stag with a rack with seven tines. Birch is associated with the element of water, is a tree of the sun and the planet Venus, and its Herbal Gender is feminine. The Birch tree is sacred to the God Thor and the Goddesses Diana and Cerridwen. Birch is considered to be a Goddess tree, the symbol of summer ever-returning. The Birch is also a special tree to the Celts ("On a switch of birch was written the first Ogham inscription in Ireland, namely seven B's, as a warning to Lug son of Ethliu, to wit, 'Thy wife will be seven times carried away from you into fairyland or elsewhere, unless birch be her overseer." - Robert Graves, The White Goddess) and Birch wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane. It is one of the three pillars of Wisdom (Oak, Yew, Birch) and often symbolizes the first level of Druid working. Birch trees often have Otherkin spirits attached to them and the "Lieschi" or "Genii of the Forest" are said to dwell in their tree tops. The Ghillie Dhu (pronounced "Gillee Doo or Yoo") are guardian tree spirits who are disguised as foliage and dislike human beings. They prefer birch trees to all others, and jealously guard them from humans. If the spirit of the Birch tree touches a head it leaves a white mark and the person turns insane. If it touches a heart, the person will die.

* Magickal usage: The month of Birch is a good time to do magick associated with new beginnings. Magickal work done in this moon adds strength and momentum to any new choices made. The Birch has applications in magick done for protection, creativity, exorcism, fertility, birth, healing, Forest Magic, Inner Authority/Self-Discipline, Lunar workings, love, and purification. Magickal protective uses of Birch include tying a red ribbon around the trunk of a birch to ward off the evil eye. Also, gently whapping someone with a Birch twig drives out negative energy, and Birch branches hung near a cradle will protect the newborn from psychic harm. In fact, cradles can be made from Birch wood to further protect a newborn. Many farmers plant Birch around their houses to protect against lightning.

For magical parchment, gather Birch bark from a tree that has been struck by lightning (chosen by Thor) - and the Birch paper will keep the writings safe. Because Birch wood has the qualities of exorcism and protection, its twigs are traditionally used to make witches' brooms. Brooms made of a mixture of Ash, Birch and Willow are said to be especially powerful in magick. Birch rods are also used in rustic rituals to drive out the spirits of the old year.

Birch is also perfect to use to make a 'Goddess' wand, since Birch is the tree known as 'the Lady of the Woods' and a grove of Birch trees is an excellent place to communicate with the Goddess. Birch wood is also a good choice for making rune sets to use for divination. Be sure to harvest your branch for the rune set during the waxing moon, and make sure you ask Odin or Byarka to inspire your work. Also ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. Birch trees especially appreciate gifts such as pretty stones, sea shells, flowers or herbs. (Please note: never take bark off a living Birch tree, since this will kill it.)

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Elder

2010-11-25T11:58:00.001-04:00

* 13th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Nov 25 - Dec 23)

* Latin name: Dwarf Elder - sambucus ebulus; Elderberry - sambucus canadenis.

* Celtic name: Ruis (pronounced: roo ish).

* Folk or Common names: Lady Elder, Elder, Elderberry, pipe tree, bore tree, bour tree, Eldrun, Hyldor, Hyllantree, Ellhorn, Sambucus.

* Parts Used: Bark, leaves, flowers, berries, wood.

* Herbal usage: The Elder has many medicinal uses, and can be used to treat over 70 conditions. The bark can be used fresh for headaches and to promote labor, or can be dried and powdered and used in small doses as a diuretic. The leaves and flowers can be made into drinks, poultices and salves. Elderberry flower water is useful for soothing sunburns. The berries are safe to eat when eaten ripe, and they can be used to make wines, jams and teas.

* Magical History & Associations: The Elder is a tree of Venus and is associated with the element of air. The bird associated with the month of Elder is the rook, the color is blood-red, and the gemstone is dark green malachite. The Elder also is associated with Black Horses, Ravens, and Badgers. The Elder is linked to the eternal turnings of life and death, birth and rebirth, and creativity and renewal. It represents the end/beginning and beginning/end.

It is sacred to the deities of Bran, Venus, Hel, Callech, Holda, the White Goddess, the Great Goddess, and Pryderi (The Celts believed that it was during the time of Elder that their sun or solar spirit was held prisoner, just as Pryderi was forced into exile). The Elder is the Old Crone aspect of the triple Goddess, wise old energy at the end of the year's cycle, and is sometimes called the "death tree" because of this. Funerary flints found in megalithic long barrows were Elder leaf shaped, suggesting the association of Elder with death goes back a long way.

Elder is also called the "witch's tree" and certainly the village hedge-witch would have used the elder in healing and Magick. The Elder is also associated with a dryad (tree spirit). Early European legends tell of a dryad called Hylde-moer, The Elder Tree Mother, who lives in the Elder tree and watches over it. Should the tree be chopped down and furniture made of the wood, Hylde-moer would follow her property and haunt the owners. Similar tales tell that if a child's cradle were made of Elder, Hylde-moer would pinch the child black and blue and give it no peace or rest, therefore it is considered unlucky to make a cradle out of Elder wood. The Elder is also seen in a negative light by the Christian religion, since Judas supposed to have hanged himself from an Elder tree and the cross used to crucify Jesus was supposed to be made of Elder.

* Magickal usage: The month of Elder includes the Winter Solstice, which is celebrated as the Sabbat of Yule, a day to mark the return of the Sun. Therefore, calling upon the Sun God or Goddess is good to do during this month.

Elder has the Magickal powers of Healing, Visions, Faery Magick, Spirituality, Cleansing, Sleep, Exorcism, Offering, Love, Protection, and Prosperity. Elder is often used to produce visions. At Samhain, the last of the Elderberries were picked with solemn rites. The wine made from these berries was considered the last sacred gift of the Earth Goddess, and was valued and drunk ritually to invoke prophecy, divination and hallucinations. Elder twigs were woven into head-dresses to enable the wearers to see spirits. The Elder is very useful in Magick dealing with Nature Spirits and the Fae. Wood spirits are said to live in Elder forests, and wood elves are said to come to listen to music played by flutes made with Elder wood.

The Elder has strong protective qualities. Tiny twigs of Elder or dried Elderberry can be worn in a bag around the neck as a charm for protection against physical or psychic attack. As a protection against evil (and later against witchcraft) Elder branches were hung in doorways of houses and cowsheds. Elder can be used to bless a person, place or thing by scattering leaves and berries to the four directions, and over the thing or person being blessed. It is said that if you stand under an Elder tree, you will never be struck by lightening. Elder was also buried in graves to ward off evil spirits, and is considered protection against earthbound, "physical" spirits like vampires. Elder as Vampire-Repellent is older folklore than the lore about garlic. When you put Elder on a threshold or windowsill, you can force a vampire to count over the thorns and the berries until morning comes, because vampires are obsessive-compulsive about counting things. Also, Elder blossom were worn at Beltane to signify witchcraft and magic, and Elder twigs can be used to undo evil magic.

Elder is a traditional wood for making Magickal tools, like besoms and wands. It is said in Irish folklore that it is Elder and not Ash which is used by witches for their magic 'hobby horses' and besoms. Justice was often dispensed under an Elder, so the hilt of a coven sword was often made of Elder wood. Elder is also a good wood to use to make Protective Wands. There are very strong superstitions about not cutting down or burning an Elder (maybe caused by a fear of releasing the tree's Hylde-moer - or maybe out of a deep respect for the tree), so be sure to remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch. It is traditional to say this before you cut a branch:

"Lady Ellhorn, give me of thy wood, And I will give thee of mine, when I become a tree."

Some people like to leave a small gift of some kind when they do harvest a branch - or you can do something practical like untangling the tree's ivy, clearing up around the trunk, watering in dry weather, or tidying up trash from around the tree.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Reed (Elm)

2010-10-28T02:49:00.000-03:00

* 12th Moon of the Celtic Year - (October 28 - November 24)

* Latin name: Latin name: American Elm - ulmus americana; European Elm - ulmus procera; slippery Elm - ulmus fulva.

* Celtic name: Negetal (pronounced: nyettle).

* Folk or Common names: In Britain where the Reed tree is the dwarf elm, it is called the Water-Elder, Whitten, or Rose Petal. Since I use the immature Elm tree in place of the Reed tree, the Elm is usually known as Elm, and sometimes Piss-Elm (due to the smell it makes while being burned as a green wood).

* Parts Used: Bark, leaves, wood.

* Herbal usage: The Elm has many medicinal uses. Slippery Elm bark can be powdered and made into a milk for babies that can't tolerate cow's milk. In fact, Slippery Elm bark is good for many purposes. In tea, it can ease insomnia and sooth an upset tummy. It is also useful for enemas and makes good poultice material. This type of poultice can be used on wounds, infections, ulcers, burns, and poison ivy.

* Magical History & Associations: The birds associated with the month of Reed are the owl and goose, the color is grass green, and the gemstone is clear green jasper.

Symbols of this Celtic month are The White Hound, The Stone, the Planet Pluto (Pwyll), The Fire Feast of Samhain Dis, Pwyll, and Arawn. Identified with the submerged or hidden dryad, The Month of Reed represents the mysteries of death. In fact the Fire Feast of Samhain celebrates the dead and on Samhain, the boundary between the Otherworld and this world dissolve. It is a night of great divination. Or in another fashion, it represents the hidden roots to all life.

The Month of Reed is associated with being both a savior and custodian. Pwyll, the Celtic ruler of the Otherworld was given "The Stone" , one of four treasures given to him for safekeeping. The Stone represents the right of the kings and queen to have divine power. Thus the Reed is also the symbol of Royalty. The White Hounds represent the dogs that guard the lunar mysteries. The Elm tree is a tree of Saturn and is associated with the element of earth. It is sacred to Odin, Hoenin and Lodr. The elm is also associated with the day of Tuesday.

* Magickal usage: The month of Elm / Reed is a good month for using music in magic, especially music made by bagpipes and flutes, and also for doing divination.

Elm is sometimes said to symbolize the dark side of the psyche and so can be used in psychic workings. The Elm is commonly known as "the elf friend". If you desire to have contact with wood elves, pick a grove of Elm trees and sit under them and sing. Around about dawn, the elves will have gotten over their initial shyness and come out to join in the singing.

Elm trees are also thought to provide a channel for the communication with divas. To get an Elm tree to help you in this quest, offerings can be brought to a favorite tree and left. The best offerings are wine, mead, tobacco, coins and sage. Tiny twigs of Elm can be worn in a bag around a child's neck as a charm to produce eloquent speech in later life. Elm wood may be bound with a yellow cord and burned to prevent gossip.

The Elm represents primordial female powers and therefore the Elm is a tree with great protective qualities. The wood from the Elm can be made into talismans and charms that can be worn for protection. The Elm also has the qualities of regeneration, boldness and fidelity, and so added to its protective qualities, it is excellent when given as a good luck token to departing friends. Using Elm is spellwork adds stability to the spell.

According to Edain McCoy in her article, "Willow for Love, Oak for strength" (1997 Llewellyn Magickal Almanac), a tea can be made for the month of Reed that includes a pinch of slippery Elm:

REED MOON TEA - Fertility, love, protection.

1 part red clover
1 part hyssop
1 part boneset
pinch of slippery elm

**Note: Please be very, VERY careful when taking this tea! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. Boneset is toxic in large doses or if taken over long period of time. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Simple truths.

2010-10-18T15:45:00.005-03:00

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

-- LORD BYRON, Childe Harold

Celtic Tree Month of Ivy

2010-09-30T19:49:00.002-03:00

* 11th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Sept 30 - Oct 27)

* Latin name: Osirian Ivy - hedera helix

* Celtic name: Gort (pronounced: goert).

* Folk or Common names: Ivy.

* Parts Used: leaves, bark, berries. Caution: Some types of Ivy are poisonous.

* Herbal usage: The leaves of Ivy can be used to make a douche for treating female infections. Ivy leaves can also be used externally for poultices to heal nerves, sinews, ulcers and infections. Tender ivy twigs can be simmered in salves to heal sunburn.

* Magical History & Associations: Ivy is the symbol of resurrection. Ivy is an herb of Jupiter and the sun, and is associated with positive ego strength. The bird associated with this month is the mute swan, the color is blue, and the gemstone is yellow serpentine.

Ivy is sacred to Osiris and Saturn. It is also connected with the god Dionysus. When Zeus's wife Hera, discovered that Zeus had bedded Semele, the daughter of Cadmus, King of Thebes, Hera suggested to Semele that she should ask Zeus to unveil himself to her. When he did so, his divine flames consumed her and almost killed her unborn child, Dionysus, but for a sudden growth of ivy. In still another story of the deities, Kissos is the name given to a nymph who dances so furiously at a Dionysian feast that she collapses and dies of exhaustion. Dionysus, grieving her untimely death, changes her into ivy. Most Ivies have five-pointed leaves which are sacred to the Goddess.

* Magickal usage: The month of Ivy is a good time to do magick for rebirth and tenaciousness. Ivy has attributes of restraint of fear and dealing with Emotions. Ivy grows in a sacred spiral, which symbolizes reincarnation, from lifetime to lifetime, and from minute to minute, day to day. Ivy travels everywhere - it spreads happily and thrives in many places where no other greenery could survive - its determination to reach through obstacles toward light and food is well known, and therefore Ivy symbolizes strength.

Ivy has many uses in Magick done for healing, protection, cooperation, and exorcism, and is very useful in fertility magick. Ivy is also equated with fidelity and can be used in charms to bind love, luck and fidelity to a person. A talisman made of Ivy would be good to give a friend since it will help ensure eternal friendship. Ivy provides protection against evil when growing on or near a house but should it fall off and die, misfortune was said to be on the way.

Ivy was sometimes used in divination: an ivy leaf placed in water on New Year' s Eve that was still be fresh on Twelfth Night foretold that the year ahead would be favorable. Should ivy not grow upon a grave, the soul of the person buried there is said to be restless - and should it grown abundantly on the grave of a young woman, then this meant that she died of a broken heart.

Ivy is also connected with the Winter Solstice and is often used for decorating at Yule-tide. Ivy, intertwined with Holly, is traditionally made into crowns for the bride and groom at weddings/handfastings. Ivy was also used in ancient times for poet's crowns, since Ivy was believed to be a source of divine inspiration. Ivy was also used by the Greeks to make victory crowns for conquering heroes in the games held at Corinth. Holly and Ivy make excellent decorations for altars. An early church council even attempted to ban the use of Ivy in church decorations because of its Pagan associations.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.

Celtic Tree Month of Vine

2010-09-02T15:40:00.000-03:00

* 10th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Sept 2 - Sept 29)

* Latin name: Grape - vitis

* Celtic name: Muin (pronounced: muhn).

* Folk or Common names: Grape (when dried: Raisin).

* Parts Used: Berries, wood, leaves, juice, seeds.

* Herbal usage: The leaves from some varieties of Grape can be used to make teas for treating diarrhea, hepititas, and upset tummies. Grape leaves can also be used externally for poultices to treat rheumatism, headaches and fevers. The fruit from most viney plants can be eaten and can be juiced for drinking. The juices can also be fermented into various wines and alcoholic beverages.

* Magical History & Associations: Grapes are an herb of Jupiter and the Moon, and are associated with positive ego strength. Birds associated with the month of the Vine are the Tit-mouse and the white swan; the animal is the snake; the color is variegated; and the gemstone is amethyst.

An annual Grape Vine Festival called the Vinalia Rostica was held by the Greeks and the Romans - this was a festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grape harvest and was dedicated to God Dionysos / Bacchus and to the Goddess Venus of the Grape Vine; and also to Minerva. It was celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grape harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.

The Grape Vine is also sacred to the deities Osiris, Hathor, and Demeter - and its five-pointed leaves are sacred to the Goddess in general. Other specific deities associated with the Vine are Rhea, Oenone, Aphrodite, Branwen, Guinevere and Etain. The wood of Vines is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane - as the tree of tree of joy (its juice is capable of altering consciousness), Vine is added to the fire as a celebration of joy.

* Magickal usage: Vines in general are symbols of both joy and wrath. This month marks the vintage season when the Grape crop is harvested and so is a good time to do any and all rituals associated with the harvest - in fact, the Autumn Equinox (called Harvest Home or Mabon) is celebrated during this month.

The month of Vine is also a good time to do magick associated with inspiration, imagination, poetry and imagery. The Grape has applications in magick done for Faerie work, garden magick, joy, exhilaration, wrath, mental powers, rebirth, happiness, fertility, inspiration, prosperity, and binding. The leaves and fruit from Vines can be used in spells to overcome inferiority complexes and to enhance ambition.

The Grape Vine also symbolizes resurrection because its strength is preserved in the wine, that magical elixir that's known for its ability to dissolve the boundaries between us, allow us to mingle more easily, and relax with others.

Grapes and Grape wine are often used to symbolize vitality, since tonic healing has always been related to the vine. Here is a recipe for Vine Moon Tea (good for use in Earth magic, sex magic, overcoming difficulties):

1 part blackberry
1 part dandelion
splash of currant wine or Grape juice
pinch of hibiscus

Grapes can be used in many types of prosperity or money attraction spells. They can be eaten as part of prosperity spellwork if the person casting the spell visualizes money energy vibrating as the grapes are eaten. You can also place grapes on the altar during money spells.

Pictures of Grapes or grape Vines can be painted onto garden walls to ensure the garden's fertility, as was done in ancient Rome. Eating grapes or raisins is said to increase fertility, as well as strengthen mental powers. Grape leaves can be dried and carried in a small pouch or bag to act as evil-repellent.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch. Grape Vine Botanical Plate from "De Historia Stirpium" by Leonard Fuchs 1543)

Celtic Tree Month of Hazel

2010-08-05T17:58:00.002-03:00

* 9th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Aug 5 - Sept 1)

* Latin name: European hazel - corylus avellana; American Filbert - corylus americana.

* Celtic name: Coll (pronounced: Cull). Coll means "life force within you".

* Folk or Common names: tree of Wisdom, Lamb's Tails Tree, Collo or Coslo (Gailic), The tree's name shares a common root with the walnut tree and its nut, or cnu and hnot in Europe and Nux in latin.

* Parts Used: Nut, leaves, branches, wood.

* Herbal usage: Hazel can be used as a drainage remedy and can help restore elasticity to the lungs. Hazelnuts, of course, can be eaten, and are a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, protein and fatty acids. The nuts can be powdered and be mixed with mead or honeyed water to help a cough.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the crane, the color is brown, and the gemstone is band-red agate. The Hazel, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of air, the planet of Mercury, the day of Wednesday, and is sacred to Mercury, Thor, Artemis, Fionn, Diana and Lazdona (the Lithuanian Hazelnut Tree Goddess). Hazel wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods that is part of the Belfire that the Druid's burned at Beltane - it was added to the fire to gain wisdom. In fact, in ancient times the Hazel was known as The Tree of Wisdom.

It is often associated with sacred springs and wells and salmon. Celtic legend tell of a grove of Hazel trees below which was a well, a pool, where salmon swam. These trees contained all knowledge, and their fruit contained that knowledge and wisdom in a nutshell. As the hazelnuts ripened, they would fall into the well where they were eaten by the salmon. With each nut eaten, the salmon would gain another spot. In order to gain the wisdom of the Hazel, the Druids caught and prepared the salmon. But Fionn, the young man stirring the pot in which the salmon were cooking, accidentally burned his thumb with the boiling stew. By reflex, he put his thumb into his mouth and thus ingested the essence of the sacred feast; he instantly gained the wisdom of the universe.

* Magickal usage: The Hazel has applications in magick done for manifestation, spirit contact, protection, prosperity, wisdom, divination-dowsing, dreams, wisdom-knowledge, marriage, reconciliation, fertility., intelligence, inspiration, and wrath. Hazel is a good herb to use to do magick associated with asking for wisdom and poetic inspiration since the Hazel is known as the Tree of Immortal Wisdom. In England, all the knowledge of the arts and sciences was thought to be bound to the eating of Hazel nuts.

Hazel also has protective uses as anti-lightning charms. A sprig of Hazel or a talisman of two Hazel twigs tied together with red or gold thread to make a solar cross can be carried as a protective good luck charm. The mistletoe that grows on hazel protects against bewitching. A cap of Hazel leaves and twigs ensures good luck and safety at sea, and protects against shipwrecks. In England, the Hazelnut is a symbol of fertility - a bag of nuts bestowed upon a bride will ensure a fruitful marriage.

The Hazel is a tree that is sacred to the fey Folk. A wand of hazel can be used to call the Fey. If you sleep under a Hazel bush you will have vivid dreams. Hazel can be used for all types of divination and dowsing. Until the seventeenth century, a forked Hazel stick was used to divine the guilt of persons in cases of murder and theft. Druids often made wands from Hazel wood, and used the wands for finding ley lines. Hazel twigs or a forked branch can be used to divine for water or to find buried treasure. The wood of the Hazel can help to divine the pure source of poetry and wisdom. Hazelnuts can be used for love divination. Assign the name of your passion to a nut and throw it in the fire while saying:

"A Hazelnut I throw in the flame,
to this nut I give my sweetheart's name,
If blazes the nut, so may thy passion grow,
For twas my nut that did so brightly glow."

If the nut burns brightly you then will know that your love will burn equally as brightly. Hazels are often found at the border between the worlds where magickal things happen, and therefore Hazel wood is excellent to use to make all-purpose wands. Any Hazel twigs, wood or nuts should be gathered after sundown on Samhain since it will be at the peak of its magickal energy. Hazel must not be cut with a knife, but with a flint.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch. Hazel drawing by M. P. Verneuil.)

Celtic Tree Month of Holly

2010-07-08T19:16:00.000-03:00

* 8th Moon of the Celtic Year - (July 8 - Aug 4)

* Latin name: English Holly (also called Scarlet Oak) - ilex aquilfolium; American holly - ilex opaca. The Holly is an evergreen tree.

* Celtic name: Tinne (pronounced: chihn' uh)

* Folk or Common names: Holly, Scarlet Oak, Kerm-Oak, Holy Tree. Holly actually means "holy".

* Parts Used: Leaf, berry, wood.

* Herbal usage: The leaf of the Holly can be dried and used as teas for fevers, bladder problems and bronchitis. The juice of the fresh leaf is helpful in jaundice treatment. Holly can be used homeopathically as a substitute for quinine. Note: Holly berries are poisonous!

* Magical History & Associations: The Holly, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of fire, and is an herb of Saturn and Mars. The bird associated with this month is the starling, the color is green-gray, the gemstone is yellow caingorm, and the day of the week association is Tuesday.

Holly is the first moon of the dark half of the year, and the Holly is sacred to both the Winter and Summer Solstices. Summer Solstice is the time when in mythology, the Oak King is slain by his twin, or tanist, the Holly King, who rules until the Winter Solstice, when he in turn is slain by his tanist, the Oak King. Tanist is related to the tannin found in an Oak tree; Oak and Holly are two sides of the same coin, the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

The Holly is also sacred to the deities of Lugh, Habondia, Tina Etruscan and Tannus. There are special spirits that dwell within Holly trees: the Holly Man lives in the tree that bears prickly Holly, and the Holly Woman dwells within that which give forth smooth and variegated leaves. Holly is also associated with unicorns, since the unicorn is one of the Celtic symbols for this tree - the other symbol is the Flaming Spear.

* Magickal usage: The month of Holly is a good time to do magick designed to help bring about a successful harvest. The Holly has applications in magick done for protection, prophesy, healing, magick for animals, sex magick, invulnerability, watchfulness, good luck, death, rebirth, Holiness, consecration, material gain, physical revenge, beauty and travel. Holly also has the ability to enhance other forms of magic.

As a symbol of firmness and masculine energy, Hollywood was used by the ancients in the construction of spear shafts, which were thought to then have magickal powers. Uses of Holly in protective magick includes hanging a sprig of Holly in the home all year to insure protection and good luck. Holly is also an excellent charm to wear for protection.

'Holly Water' can be made by soaking Holly overnight in spring water under a full moon. This water can then be sprinkled over infants to keep them happy and safe. Holly Water can also be used to sprinkle around the house for psychic cleansing and protection. Holly leaves can be cast around outside to repel unwanted spirits or animals and a Holly bush can be planted close to houses to protect against lightning. Ensure that the Holly has a place in your garden because its presence wards off unfriendly spirits. Do not burn Holly branches unless they are well and truly dead, for this is unlucky. Holly, intertwined with ivy, is traditionally made into crowns for the bride and groom at weddings/handfastings. Holly and Ivy also make excellent decorations for altars. Holly is also a traditional decoration for Yuletide as in sung in the traditional Yuletide song:

"Deck the halls with boughs of Holly, fa la la la la, la la la la."

If you gather nine Holly leaves in complete silence on a Friday after midnight, wrap them up in a white cloth, use nine knots to bind the cloth, and then place them under your pillow, your dreams will come true. When harvesting the leaves from the Holly, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take the parts and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. Holly favors red and yellow stones as gifts.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Oak

2010-06-10T09:11:00.001-03:00

* 7th Moon of the Celtic Year - (June 10 - July 7)

* Latin name: white Oak - quercus alba; red Oak - quercus rubra; black Oak - quercus velutina; etc.

* Celtic name: Duir (pronounced: dur). Duir means 'door'.

* Folk or Common names: Duir, Jove's Nuts and Juglans.

* Parts Used: Wood, leaves, bark, acorns.

* Herbal usage: Oaks are known for astringent tonics and therefore tea made from Oak is a good remedy for hemorrhoids. White Oak bark tea helps in sinus infections since it helps unclog congestion. Acorns can be peeled and used to make various homeopathic potions used to treat alcoholism, bad breath and constipation.

* Magical History & Associations: The word Duir, comes from the Sanskrit "Dwr" meaning "door", and is the door to the three worlds of the Shaman.

The Oak is associated with the element of fire and is ruled by the sun. The bird associated with this month is the wren, the color is black, and the gemstone is white carnelian or moonstone.

Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular reverence by the Celts and the Norse because of its size, long life, and acorns. The Druids were said to have worshipped in Oak-groves in Gaul. In Druidic times at "Yule" all fires were extinguished, the Druids then lit the new season fires using Oakwood as Yule logs, and all of the people would start their fires from this source.

The Oak tree is sacred to Brighid, the Dadga, Dianus, Janus, Rhea, Cybele, Hecate, Pan, and Erato. In the Vatican, there are statues of the goddess Artemis (often as a perpetual youth) wearing a necklace of acorns. The acorn was under the protection of Cybele (the goddess of Nature). The Oak is also frequently associated with Gods of thunder and lightning such as Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, and the Lithuanian God Perkunas. This association may be due to the oak's habit of being a lightning-magnet during storms.

Specific oak trees have also been associated with the 'Wild Hunt', which is led by Herne in England and by Wodin in Germany. King Arthur's Round Table was said to have been made from a single slab of a giant oak tree.

* Magickal usage: The month of Oak has summer solstice occurring within it, and Oak is a powerful symbol of Midsummer.

In general, Oak can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability, healing, fertility, Health, Money, Potency, and good luck. The different varieties of Oak will lend their own special 'flavor' to the magic: Red Oaks energy is a bit lighter and more 'firey' than the other oaks; White Oak is useful for spells requiring strength and solidity; and Brown oak has a very earthy feel, and is useful for grounding. Acorns can be used specifically for magick done to attract the opposite gender, increase income and prosperity, or can be used for their divinatory powers.

Oak is the tree known as "The King of the Grove" and was one of the sacred three: 'Oak, Ash & Thorn'. The worship of the Oak tree may have come from the fact that the acorn was one of the main food sources of the nomadic tribes of prehistoric Europe. In mystic lore the acorn often represented the supreme form of fertility - creativity of the mind. Acorns are used to increase fertility (of projects or ideas, or in matters of human reproduction) and to ease pain. Symbolic of immortality, acorns are especially sacred to the Samhain season, and they can be used to decorate the altar in the fall.

The Oak is a holy tree and is the lord of truth. There is a tradition that the voice of Jupiter may be heard in the rustling of its leaves. It is said that at the summer solstice the future can be divined by listening to the wind as it blows through the branches of an Oak tree.

Oak is also a very powerful herb for protection. The Oak has protected England through the use of its timbers for the building of ships. Oaks are also used as boundary markers for their protective qualities. Acorns placed in a window can ward off lightning or creatures that go bump in the night. Acorns can be carried in a pocket or charm bag to protect the bearer from storms, from getting lost and from evil intent. An oak leaf can worn at the breast, touching the heart, and it will protect the wearer from all deception and the world's false glamour. A handful of Oak leaves put in the bath water will cleanse the bather both in body and in spirit.

Acorns are carried for immortality and longevity, to preserve youthfulness, for fertility, and against illness. Three acorns can be made into a charm for youthfulness, beauty and attainment in life. The three acorns should be tied and bound with the mage's own hair, blessed under the new moon and the full moon, every month of the year, and then the charm should be worn.

It is said that if you can catch a falling Oak leaf you shall have no colds all winter. When a sick person is in the house, make a fire of Oakwood and warm the house with it to 'draw off' the illness.

Acorns can be planted in the dark of the moon to bring financial prosperity. Acorns can also be placed near windows or hung from window shade pulls to bring luck to a house. This custom originates from the Vikings and Druids because of the strength of the oak tree and its ability to attract lightning. They can also be carried to bring good luck.

The Oak is a male wood which is ideal for the construction of any tool that needs the male influence such as athames, certain wands and staffs. The wood of an Oak tree can also be used to make staves, or religious idols. The midsummer fire is always Oak and the need fire is always kindled in an Oak log. When gathering Oak, be sure to pour wine on the roots of the tree to thank it for allowing you to take a part of it. Acorns should be gathered in the daylight, and leaves and wood by night. A waning moon is the correct time to harvest Oak.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch. Photo from Wikipedia.)

Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn

2010-05-13T00:01:00.000-03:00

* 6th Moon of the Celtic Year - (May 13 - June 9)

* Latin name: crataegus oxyacantha (from the Greek 'kratos' - hardenss, 'oxus' - sharp, and 'akantha' - thorn).

* Celtic name: Huath (pronounced: Hoh' uh)

* Folk or Common names: Bread and Cheese Tree, Gaxels, Hagthorn, Halves, Haw, Hazels, Huath, Ladies' Meat, May, Mayblossom, May Bush, Mayflower, May Tree, Midland Hawthorn Quick, Thorn, Tree of Chastity.

* Parts Used: Berries, wood, branches, seeds, flowers.

* Herbal usage: The berries are used as a cardiac tonic. Since this is a powerful herb it is best not to be used alone, so mix it with borage, motherwort, cayenne, garlic & dandelion flowers. Hawthorn leaves can be used as a substitute for oriental green tea, the seeds can be roasted and used like coffee. Hawthorn makes a light, hard, apple-like wood.

Hawthorn usually doesn't grow much bigger than a shrub, and is popular in England as a hedge plant. The wood from the Hawthorn provides the hottest fire known. Its leaves and blossoms are used to create a tea to aid with anxiety, appetite loss and poor circulation. The pink or white star-shaped blossom gives off a musky scent - for many men, a strong scent of female sexuality. They are edible, sprinkled on desserts. Young leaves (country name - pepper and salt) can be eaten in salads and sandwiches.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the night crow, the color is deepest black, and the gemstone is Lapis Lazuli. The Greeks and Romans saw the Hawthorn as symbolic of hope and marriage, but in medieval Europe it was associated with witchcraft and considered to be unlucky. This seeming contradiction is to be expected from a tree with such beautiful blossoms and such deadly-looking thorns.

Hawthorne has a strong association with water. It is a Masculine herb, associated with the planet of Mars and the element of Fire. Hawthorn is so strongly associated with the Celtic May Eve festival of Bealtaine (Beltane) that "may" is a folk name for it. Whitethorn is another name popular in Brittany, where the tree marks Fairy trysting places. Sacred hawthorns guard wishing wells in Ireland, where shreds of clothing ("clouties") are hung on the thorns to symbolize a wish made.

The Roman goddess Cardea, mistress of Janus who was keeper of the doors, had as her principal protective emblem a bough of Hawthorn. "Her power is to open what is shut; to shut what is open." Hawthorn is also associated with the deities of Flora (orgiastic use), the White Goddess Maia, and Hymen. There is an old legend which says that the first Hawthorn bush grew from the staff of St Joseph. The Burning Bush of Moses is a variety of hawthorn, Crateagus pyracantha. Hawthorn is one of the nine woods that is traditionally placed on the Bale-fire: "Hawthorn is burned to purify And draw faerie to your eye..."

* Magickal usage: The month of Hawthorn is a good time to do magick designed to clear away old habits and spiritual cobwebs.

Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and marriage, health and prosperity, Fertility, Purification, Chastity, male potency, Fishing Magic, purity, inner journeys, intuition, female sexuality, cleansing, and Happiness. The fey are said to especially like Hawthorn groves, since the Hawthorn is sacred to them. Hawthorn is one of the tree fairy triad of Britain: 'Oak, Ash and Thorn', and where all three trees grow together it is said that one may see fairies. The flowers are supposed to "bring fairies into the house. Solitary Hawthorn trees growing on hills or near sacred wells act as 'markers' to the faery realm. It is said that a person should never cut a blooming Hawthorn, as the fey will become angry. It is also said that sitting under a Hawthorn tree in the month of May might mean being lost forever to the unknown, mystic faery world.

Even today, in parts of Ireland and Wales, it is a spring custom to braid crowns of Hawthorn blossoms and leave them for faeries, who come at night and dance around them. This custom brings blessings to whoever left the crown.

The Hawthorn blossom, for many men, has the strong scent of female sexuality and was used by the Turks as an erotic symbol. Uses of Hawthorn in fertility/sexual talismans include using the leaves under the bed to preserve virginity. Hawthorn has long been used to increase fertility, and because of this power it is incorporated into weddings, especially those performed in the spring.

In many parts of Europe it was customary in the spring or early summer to go out to the woods and cut down a Hawthorn and bring it in back to the town. There the Hawthorn was set up with much celebration. Branches of the Hawthorn were also fastened to all the houses. This custom was said to bring the blessing which the Hawthorn tree-spirit has in its power to bestow into the village. Hence the custom in some places of planting a May-tree before every house, or of carrying the village May-tree from door to door so that every household may receive its share of the blessing. May poles used to be decorated, and sometimes even made from Hawthorn.

Hawthorn has strong protective qualities. Hawthorn can be attached to a cow barn and the cows will stay healthy and produce an enormous milk supply. A globe made of Hawthorn can be placed in the kitchen for fire protection. Hawthorne in the rafters of a home is good for protection against spirits, and ghosts. In the past most witch's gardens contained at least one Hawthorn hedge for protection, as well as being one of the ingredients in the famous Flying Ointment. Leaves can also be used as a charm to protect a newborn child and a thorn carried in a pouch can bring good luck while fishing and can also ward off depression. A Hawthorn branch hung from the roof or chimney of a house will protect it from lightning.

Worn or carried, Hawthorn promotes happiness in the troubled, depressed or sad. It also can be used to promote beauty. At dawn on Beltane a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year, can go bathe in the dew of the Hawthorn tree while chanting this rhyme:

"The fair maid, who on the first of May,
Goes to the fields at the break of day,
And bathes in the dew from the hawthorn tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be."

Hawthorns are a favorite tree of Witches, and we are said to be able to transform ourselves into a Hawthorn tree at will. Hawthorn is also a good wood to make brooms and wands out of because of its strong bond with Witchcraft. Just make sure that if you are going to cut off a limb of a Hawthorn tree for this use, that you do it on Beltane, since to cut it at any other time is unlucky. It is also bad luck to pick Hawthorn flowers before the first week of May, and it also was considered "a sign that death is on its way if brought into the house, except for the first of May". In ancient Britain, destruction of a Hawthorn tree might bring on tragedies such as the death of one's cattle or children and a total loss of well-being.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Willow

2010-04-15T08:26:00.001-03:00

* 5th Moon of the Celtic Year - (April 15 - May 12)

* Latin name: Weeping Willow: salix babylonica; black Willow: salix nigra

* Celtic name: Saille (Sahl' yeh)

* Folk or Common names: Willow, Witch's Tree, Pussy Willow, Salicyn Willow, Saille, Sally, Withe, Withy, Witches' Aspirin, Tree of Enchantment, Osier, Tarvos Tree, and Sough Tree. The Anglo-Saxon 'welig' from where the name 'willow' is derived, means 'pliancy'.

* Parts Used: Bark, sap, twigs, branches, wood.

* Herbal usage: The bark of the Willow has been used as a pain killer... the bark contains a glusoside called salicin that forms salicylylous acid which is the 'active ingredient' in aspirin. The bark has astringic qualities and can be used for rheumatic conditions, heartburn and as a diuretic. The sap gathered from the tree when it is flowering can be used to treat facial blemishes and dandruff.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle. The Willow, a Feminine herb, is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle.

The Willow is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. Willow wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane - as the tree of death that is Sacred to Hecate, Willow is added to the fire as a celebration of death. The Willow is sacred to Minerva who invented numbers and also to Artemis, Ceres, Persephone, Brigid, Hera, Helice, Mercury, Belili, and Circe. The Sumerian goddess Belili was a goddess of trees, and Willows in particular. The Willow is also associated with Orpheus, regarded by the Creeks as the most celebrated of poets. It is said that Orpheus received his gifts of eloquence and communication by carrying Willow branches on his journey through the Underworld. A bas-relief in a temple at Delphi portrays Orpheus leaning against a Willow tree, touching its branches.

Pagan associations with the Willow have always been strong, for they are often revered as trees of the MoonGoddess, she who reflects her moon magic upon the waters of Earth. Willow was often the tree most sought by the village wise-woman, since it has so many medicinal properties, and eventually the Willow's healing and religious qualities became one and the tree became called 'witch's tree'.

The Willow is also associated with the fey. The wind in the Willows is the whisperings of a fairy in the ear of a poet. It is also said that Willow trees can uproot themselves and stalk travelers at night, muttering at them.

* Magickal usage: The Willow has applications in magick done for enchantment, wishing, romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magick for women, death, femininity, love, divination, friendship, joy, love, and peace.

Placed in homes, Willow branches protect against evil and malign sorcery. Carried, Willow wood will give bravery, dexterity, and help one overcome the fear of death. If you knock on a Willow tree (knock on wood) this will avert evil. A Willow tree growing near a home will protect it from danger. Willows are also a good tree to plant around cemeteries and also for lining burial graves for its symbolism of death and protection.

Willows can be used in rituals for intuition, knowledge, gentle nurturing, and will elucidate the feminine qualities of both men and women. If a person needs to get something off their chest or to share a secret, if they confess to a Willow, their secret will be trapped. Also, wishes are granted by a Willow tree if they are asked for in the correct manner.

Willow leaves, bark and wood add energy to healing magick, and burning a mix of Willow bark and sandalwood during the waning moon can help to conjure spirits. Uses of Willow in love talismans include using the leaves to attract love. Willow leaves or twigs can also be used in spells to create loyalty, make friendship pacts, treaties, or alliances. A rejected lover can wear Willow as a charm to win back the love.

To determine if you will be married in the new year:

"Throw your shoe high up
into the branches of a Willow tree;
If the branches catch and hold the shoe,
you soon will married be."

Willows have many uses to Witches, the most common is that the wood is used to make wands for moon magick. Willow wands can also be used to dowse for water (underground), earth energies, and buried objects. (The Witch should be careful to ask for the tree's blessings before taking a branch to make a wand.) The supple long ending branches of the Willow make good weaving materials to use to weave circlets and wreaths. Willow wood is good for making magical harps.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Alder

2010-03-18T07:38:00.000-03:00

* 4th Moon of the Celtic Year - (March 18 - April 14)

* Latin name: Smooth Alder - alnus serrulata.

* Celtic name: Fearn (pronounced: fair un).

* Folk or Common names: Alder, Gummy/Gluey (European), Rugose/wrinkly (Tag), Tree of the Fairies.

* Parts Used: Parts Used: Branches, wood, bark, leaves.

* Herbal usage: Alder is in the hazelnut family and was used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant. Tea can be made from bark and is useful in treating diarrhea, coughs, toothaches and the discomfort of childbirth. A potion made from the bark can also be used externally as an eye wash or for a wash for poison ivy, swellings and sprains.

* Magical History & Associations: The birds associated with this month are the raven, the crow and the gull; the colors are crimson, green-brown and royal purple; the day is Saturday; and the gemstone is fire-garnet.

The Alder, a Masculine herb, is associated with the element of fire, and the planet of Venus. The Alder is sacred to Bran the Blessed and Cronos (Saturn). Alder is also sacred to Faery kings and elf kings - from the word Alder comes elder (not the tree) as in 'elder' kings. The Fey of the Alder have been described as water spirits or as "Dark Faeries". They are very protective of the tree and when they leave their trees, this Faerie will take the form of a Raven. In tree Folk-lore, the Alder is known as the tree of fire - In the battle of the trees, the Alder fought in the very front line. It is described as the very "battle witch" of all woods, the tree that is hottest in the fight.

* Magickal usage: The month of Alder is a good time to do magick designed to celebrate the connection and tie between all women, and the mother-daughter bond.

The Alder has applications in magick done for spiritual decisions, duty, prophecy, oracular strength, intelligence, mental prowess, resurrection, air magic, water magic, strength, spirituality, teaching, weather magick, and protection from outside forces.

Alder leaves or twigs can be carried in a pouch to act as a protection charm and as a powerful force in psychic battles. Ash talismans or charms can also be carried to aid in the preservation of ideas.

The Alder is known as the "fairy's tree" in Celtic lore, so is good for fairy magic. The faeries are said to like to dance under the trees when they are flowering. Carrying Alder twigs or flowers acts as a charm for communicating with the fey.

Alder is often used in resurrection magic and also used in building/construction magic. Alder wood is often called the "wood of the witches". Whistles may be made of out of young shoots to entice Air elemental spirits. This gives a Witch the ability to summon, control and banish elementals or the four winds. It is also the ideal wood for making the magical pipes and flutes for use in magickal ceremonies.

Alder produces a red dye from the bark, a green dye from the flowers and a brown dye from its twigs. Some Witches use these dyes in coloring ritual garb with the red dye signifying fire, the green dye: water, and the brown dye: earth.

While the Witch is dying her robes, she should say:

"These leaves from trees, these herbs and flowers,
Make holy with your living powers
Raise the power! Bestow the magick!
Set earth's seal upon my magick!"

When harvesting bark or leaves from the Alder, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take the parts and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. To prepare Alder wood for use, beat the bark away with a willow stick while projecting your wishes into it.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Ash

2010-02-18T00:03:00.000-04:00

* 3rd Moon of the Celtic Year - (Feb 18 - March 17)

* Latin name: White Ash - fraxinus americana; European Ash - fraxinus excelsior; Flowering Ash - fraxinus ornus.

* Celtic name: Nion (pronounced: knee un)

* Folk or Common names: Ash, Common Ash, Unicorn Tree, Guardian Tree

* Parts Used: Leaves, wood, bark, twigs, sap, flowers

* Herbal usage: Ash leaves and the tender tops can be used in the spring to make a fasting tea that is a diuretic and can be used as a help for weight loss. Ash bark is known as a liver and spleen cleanser and can make the immune system stronger. The flowering Ash has sap that contains a sugary exudate called 'manna', which can be used as a laxative.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the snipe, the color is half clear & half deep blue, and the gemstone is sea-green beryl. The Ash, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of water, the sun and Jupiter; and is sacred to Thor, Woden, Mars, Uranus and Gwydion.

Ash is also sacred to Odin since the Ash is often known as the Yggdrassil (or the 'Ash Yggdrasil') amongst the Scandinavian nations. In Norse mythology, the Yggdrassil supports the Universe, has three main branches and is believed to have sprung from the beginning of time out of primordial slime and ashes. The Ash is also the tree of the sea God Poseidon, because of its watery power. Frennett (frenetic chaos), a substance used by berserkers, may have been made from Ash bark.

The Ash was supposed to be serpent repellent - Pliny held that there is such an antipathy between an adder and an Ash-tree, "that if an adder be encompassed round with Ash-tree leaves, she will sooner run through the fire than through the leaves".

The ceremonial Yule log is often made of Ash - this log is kindled each Yule with a piece from last years fire and allowed to smolder for 12 days before it is ceremonially put out. The Ash tree is famous, although anonymous, since it's the tree from which the Hanged Man is suspended in tarot decks

* Magickal usage: The Ash was one of the sacred Druidic three: 'Oak, Ash & Thorn', and the month of Ash is a good time to do magick designed to learn your inner self. The Ash has applications in magick done for sea power, ocean rituals, karmic laws, magical potency, healing, protection from drowning, love, rain making, women's mysteries, prophetic dreams, general protection, Prosperity, and health.

Ash is often used for making both mundane and magical tools - it's said that tools with handles of Ash are more productive than tools with handles of other wood. Witches brooms often have the staff made from Ash, and Ash wood was used for spears and shields since it was known as a protective wood. Placing Ash berries in a cradle prevents the child from being traded for a changeling by an evil faery - and Ash talismans can be worn as protective amulets.

Ash is known to keep away serpents and to protect against their bite. If there are no snakes to be found, Ash can be used instead to keep away nasty people who are bitchy, quick to criticize, impatient, or psychic vampires.

Special guardian spirits reside in the Ash; This makes it excellent for absorbing sickness. The spirally carved Druidic wand was made of Ash for this healing purpose. In years gone by, weak-limbed children were passed through split ash trees which were then bound up. If the tree grew straight, the child would as well.

Ash can be used in medicine pouches or can be used in magick for wart remover: the wart is stuck with a pin that has first been thrust into an Ash, while these words are said:

"Ashen tree, Ashen tree, pray these warts off of me."

The pins are then stuck back in the tree and left.

The druids attributed special powers over water to the ash tree. They used its wood to make it rain or to ward off water's destructive power. The Ash is the tree of sea power, or of the power resident in water.

Ash leaves placed under the pillow will induce prophetic dreams, and carrying an Ash leaf will attract the love of the opposite sex.

The Ash is often called The Unicorn Tree, because unicorns are supposed to be fond of the tree. To catch a glimpse of a unicorn, carry Ash wood or leaves. Whenever you need to harvest a piece or part of an Ash tree, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch or other part and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Celtic Tree Month of Rowan

2010-01-22T08:17:00.001-04:00

Here We Go Again...

2009-12-26T09:09:00.005-04:00

Mercury turns retrograde December 26th, 2009 - 10:32 am EST
Mercury turns direct January 15th, 2010 - 12:48 pm EST

Astrology is not my forté. I am interested in it, but don't delve as deeply into the subject as some others do. As a result, my knowledge about periods of Mercury Retrograde is somewhat scanty. Having said that, my personal experience on the havoc it can wreak is pretty extensive!

They say knowledge is power, so I just set out to find some!

Here are some links (in no particular order) that I found helpful:

I have about two and a half hours in which to back up my hard drive. Let the mayhem begin!

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

2009-12-24T06:24:00.001-04:00

Happy Everything!

2009-12-20T12:47:00.000-04:00

Sunday mornings are when I sit back with a cup of tea and read blogs. One of my recent favourites is Trial and Error, and a few minutes ago I stumbled across this discussion. I'm not one who regularly posts comments, but I felt I had to weigh in. And since I haven't posted here lately (I know, I know....), I thought I would share my response with you.

It's an interesting time, the holidays. Everyone seems to want to claim the season for themselves, and shut everyone else out -- the complete opposite of what it's supposed to be all about.

The signs proclaiming "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" are the ones that get me the most. I feel like gently sticking a Post-It note on each one, pointing out that it's actually the Earth spinning on its axis as it goes around the Sun that's "the reason for the season." (And the other three seasons, for that matter.) :)

My faith is not Christian, but many of my traditions have been adopted as part of "Christmas." (The tree mentioned above is a great example.) And I honestly think that's wonderful. If part of my tradition and celebration brings others joy, I'm all for it!

But many people of my faith rant and rave about how the Christians have "stolen" our traditions. It seems as if every faith has its own little group with megaphones shouting, "It's ours! You can't have it! And it's better than yours! So there!"

If I know the faith of the person I'm speaking to, I wish them the appropriate greeting. If I don't know, then I say "Happy Holidays" -- not to exclude anybody or anything (as some Christians seem to interpret the fact that the word "Christmas" doesn't appear), but in order to INCLUDE everybody. Regardless of their faith, my wish for everyone is the same -- I truly wish that the holidays they are celebrating bring them love, joy, and peace.

And isn't that really what it's all about?

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Celtic Tree Month of Elder

2009-11-25T12:15:00.000-04:00

Celtic Tree Month of Reed (Elm)

2009-10-28T09:08:00.000-03:00

This resonated.

2009-10-10T11:19:00.001-03:00

If there is to be peace in the world,
there must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
there must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
there must be peace between neighbours.

If there is to be peace between neighbours,
there must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
there must be peace in the heart.

– Lao Tzu (570-490 BC)

Celtic Tree Month of Ivy

2009-10-01T02:29:00.001-03:00

Does your online home need redecorating?

2009-09-26T23:37:00.000-03:00

Isabella Snow is having a blog makeover contest. Here are the details, straight from her blog.

September's Blogbunnie Blog Makeover Contest!
Rules for Isabella Snow's September blog makeover contest! Entering is easy! Just copy and paste this (entire) blurb to your blog (make sure the links still work!) and then email Isabella a link to your blog post. The contest deadline is at midnight GMT September 30. One winner will be selected the following day by a drawing of names; the name will be posted here and the winner will be emailed, as well. A new, totally original blog will be completed within two weeks of winning. One entry per blog. *Blogger.com customization only*, see the Blogbunnie Blog Design portfolio for layout options.
Good luck!
xx Isabella

And good luck from me, too!

Music is everywhere.

2009-09-19T12:45:00.000-03:00

I saw this on Facebook a few minutes ago. So beautiful in its simplicity.

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

New Moon, New Beginning

2009-09-18T21:17:00.000-03:00

Today I began something new. Each morning and evening, I will set aside some "quiet time" to focus on my devotions. Since discovering The Celtic Devotional way back in April, I have been meaning to make it a part of my daily life.

Well, today was Day One. Not only do I read the morning and evening devotions aloud, but I'm keeping a journal as well. Each morning, I write down the almanac details for the day (Celtic tree month, moon's phase, sign, and void of course, et cetera), and then during my "quiet time", I journal my responses to the meditation questions in the book. At the end of the day, I also write in three things for which I am grateful, and if there's room (and I have one I've found), I finish off the day's journal entry with a meaningful quotation.

Taking the time to focus on my spirituality is important to me. I am much happier when I feel connected with the Creator and the Earth. There is a reason they call it "grounded." I am certain that is why I feel so calm when I "talk" with the trees. Feeling their energy in my hands and feeling my energy channel through them deep down into the Earth is a sense of serenity I can barely describe. I need to do it more often.

Just like I need to make my devotions a daily habit. Here's hoping it sticks.

Sharing this with you.

2009-09-13T13:13:00.000-03:00

I have recently stumbled across the blog of an artist whose work makes me absolutely pulse with joy. Her name is Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor, and her site is called Gypsy Mare Studios.

Her artwork often combines two of my favourite themes: horses and "all things witchy!" It's incredible.

Having looked at her work, I felt compelled to share. Maybe you will, too.

Celtic Tree Month of Vine

2009-09-02T09:21:00.000-03:00

Pagan Blog Registry Project

2009-08-18T17:10:00.000-03:00

I just stumbled across Pagan Blog Registry Project and I'm so excited that I had to pass it along as soon as possible.

The PBRP is a "personal attempt to list the active, current pagan blogs and podcasts [found] around the pagan net." Personally, I think it's a wonderful idea. It's like that bumper sticker: There are more of us than you think. But finding us isn't always so easy! :)

Check it out, and if you have a pagan blog, ask them to list you.

Sweet Harvest

2009-08-17T09:13:00.000-03:00

My neighbours hate my front lawn. They've never said anything about it, but I know that the fact that it's let to run wild makes them a little crazy. But oh, it's so worth it when I can get so many wonderful fresh blueberries for my breakfast!

I had to cut back the hawthorn bush this morning, too. I think it bit the mailman last week, since there was a nice little handwritten note on our mail: "Please trim greenery around path to mailbox." Well, given that it bit me four times this morning, I can certainly understand his request. I felt badly cutting it, but leaving it there to harm the mailman was not an option.

I might take the blueberries and make some muffins for my love. They're his favourite.

Is it just me?

2009-08-16T12:19:00.000-03:00

Or does this make you chuckle too?

(My friend KJ sent me this, and I'm posting it here with her permission.)

Celtic Tree Month of Hazel

2009-08-05T14:43:00.000-03:00

This and That

2009-07-22T09:51:00.000-03:00

Between the rain and the energy of the new moon, I'm feeling both restless and philosophical today. New moon should mean new beginnings -- it only comes once a month, so I need to take advantage of the opportunity while I have it!

So I'm going to try to post here more often. Starting today.

Last week I got to spend some quality time with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Because we hadn't seen each other in more than ten years, I decided to share my spirituality -- and this blog -- with her. Acceptance for who you are is one of the most beautiful gifts there is. Genuine interest is even more wonderful.

I'm working more with my Tarot cards, working on a notebook and generally just doing more practice. I don't think I've handled them this much since I first began reading them in university, and I've missed them. Since the night I was the entertainment for a local Red Hatter group, I've done readings for my sister and my friend, as well as multiple practice readings. It feels good -- becoming more natural all the time.

I think it's safe to say our Circle has disbanded. I was talking with Maiden last night via text message, and neither one of us has heard from Crone. I want to call her, to see how she's doing, but to be honest, I'm a little afraid to. I'm not sure of the reception I'd receive. The last time we were together, I really had a hard time reading her -- not something I'm used to -- and it was a little painful. Her heart attack changed her -- as it would anyone, I'm sure -- and I'm not sure who she is anymore. It's sad.

Although I feel lonely sometimes, I really think I'm just not meant to practice with others.

Celtic Tree Month of Holly

2009-07-08T22:57:00.000-03:00

A Short History of Medicine

2009-07-04T19:58:00.000-03:00

2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.

1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.

1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.

1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.

1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.

2000 A.D. - That antibiotic doesn't work anymore. Here, eat this root.

Think about it.

2009-06-18T09:48:00.000-03:00

“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.”

~Amelia Earhart~

Fashion Statement

2009-06-17T23:06:00.000-03:00

Thanks to Mrs. B (AKA the Pagan Soccer Mom), I now know how to magically tie my shoes!

Too cute! Check it out here!

My favourite poem of all time.

2009-06-11T17:06:00.000-03:00

The Cloud

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And laugh as I pass in thunder.

I sift the snow on the mountains below,
And their great pines groan aghast;
And all the night 'tis my pillow white,
While I sleep in the arms of the blast.
Sublime on the towers of my skiey bowers,
Lightning, my pilot, sits;
In a cavern under is fettered the thunder,
It struggles and howls at fits;

Over earth and ocean, with gentle motion,
This pilot is guiding me,
Lured by the love of the genii that move
In the depths of the purple sea;
Over the rills, and the crags, and the hills,
Over the lakes and the plains,
Wherever he dream, under mountain or stream,
The Spirit he loves remains;
And I all the while bask in Heaven's blue smile,
Whilst he is dissolving in rains.

The sanguine Sunrise, with his meteor eyes,
And his burning plumes outspread,
Leaps on the back of my sailing rack,
When the morning star shines dead;
As on the jag of a mountain crag,
Which an earthquake rocks and swings,
An eagle alit one moment may sit
In the light of its golden wings.
And when Sunset may breathe, from the lit sea beneath,
Its ardors of rest and of love,

And the crimson pall of eve may fall
From the depth of Heaven above,
With wings folded I rest, on mine aery nest,
As still as a brooding dove.
That orbed maiden with white fire laden,
Whom mortals call the Moon,
Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor,
By the midnight breezes strewn;
And wherever the beat of her unseen feet,
Which only the angels hear,
May have broken the woof of my tent's thin roof,
The stars peep behind her and peer;
And I laugh to see them whirl and flee,
Like a swarm of golden bees,
When I widen the rent in my wind-built tent,
Till the calm rivers, lakes, and seas,
Like strips of the sky fallen through me on high,
Are each paved with the moon and these.

I bind the Sun's throne with a burning zone,
And the Moon's with a girdle of pearl;
The volcanoes are dim, and the stars reel and swim
When the whirlwinds my banner unfurl.
From cape to cape, with a bridge-like shape,
Over a torrent sea,
Sunbeam-proof, I hang like a roof,--
The mountains its columns be.
The triumphal arch through which I march
With hurricane, fire, and snow,
When the Powers of the air are chained to my chair,
Is the million-colored bow;
The sphere-fire above its soft colors wove,
While the moist Earth was laughing below.

I am the daughter of Earth and Water,
And the nursling of the Sky;
I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;
I change, but I cannot die.
For after the rain when with never a stain
The pavilion of Heaven is bare,
And the winds and sunbeams with their convex gleams
Build up the blue dome of air,
I silently laugh at my own cenotaph,
And out of the caverns of rain,
Like a child from the womb, like a ghost from the tomb,
I arise and unbuild it again.

-- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Celtic Tree Month of Oak

2009-06-10T20:55:00.000-03:00

"Retro" not always cool.

2009-06-03T08:27:00.000-03:00

That last Mercury Retrograde was a hellish one. Never, ever look at an upcoming Mercury Retrograde and say to yourself, "Oh, well -- it never really affects me." That's just asking for trouble.

Without going into too many details, let's just say that the god of communications had a grand ol' time messing up my life (to the point that I'm only ready to mention it now, five days after his reign ended).

On the plus side, life is pretty good right now. I just wish I could decide what to do about the Circle situation. I miss them, but maybe we were only meant to come together for a short time, and then our lives would spin away from each other? No answers seem apparent at the moment. Need to contemplate it a bit more, I guess.

Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn

2009-05-13T00:01:00.000-03:00

Focus.

2009-04-25T21:08:00.000-03:00

Since picking up the Celtic Devotional book, I've decided to make it a part of my daily life, starting tomorrow. In the past few days, I've made up a little booklet of all of the almanac information to be filled in each day. Juggling all four almanacs/planners, plus converting moon void of courses tables to Atlantic time, was getting a little too hard on the head. And trying to input it all into my Palm was a tedious process.

So I made up this little calendar in order to keep track of it all. On Saturday evenings, I'll go through all four sources and prepare the week's information. That way I will have it all at hand. This "decluttering" will increase the chance I actively observe my spirituality on a daily basis one hundredfold.
It also allows me to plan ahead. Beltane starts at sundown this coming Thursday evening and continues until sunset on Friday evening. Well, the moon is void-of-course until about ten o'clock Thursday evening. I'm pretty sure that Crone won't want Maiden and me to be arriving at her house at that late hour, and, to be honest, I think I'd like to celebrate Beltane at home alone.

It has nothing to do with the fact that our Circle is a little fractured at the moment. It has more to do with the fact that I'm feeling very connected with the world around me right now. I want to cast my circle, call the quarters, and have a solitary ritual. I have never actually done any of this by myself before, and I'm feeling ready and eager to do so. The Full Moon is in two weeks, so I think I will ask Crone and Maiden if they'd like to get together then instead.

I've also been thinking that I might like to create some sacred space in my backyard. It would take some planning, work, and some time to fully become complete, but I'm really thinking of doing it. Planting two circles of hedges, one inner and one outer, each with an opening to enter, but at opposite ends to prevent visibility, with the centre being a space large enough to cast a circle. It would be a few years before it would be secluded enough that I wouldn't be seen by the houses on the hill overlooking my yard, but the sooner I begin it, the sooner it will be ready.

This project really excites me. I could gather small evergreens from wooded areas that are important to me and use them to form the hedges. I could plant them deiseal, as if casting a circle, beginning in the north.

The more I think about this, the more I like the idea.

Fantastic Book: Celtic Devotional

2009-04-15T08:38:00.000-03:00

Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings
Caitlin Matthews
Godsfield Press, 2004
ISBN: 1-84181-197-1

Since the Indigo bookstore opened here in my city, I have found so many wonderful books relating to my spiritual path -- and most of them have been in the Bargain section! Last night, however, was the ultimate find.

One of the things I loved about the Anglican church was that there was a prayer book. On any given day, you could open it up, and there were prayers along a particular theme to be included in part of your morning spiritual practice (which was also nicely laid out for you). Well, for the past eight years, since I realized exactly who and what I am, I have been wishing that there were something along the lines of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, but for an eclectic pagan like me.

Last night I found it -- in the Bargain section of Indigo, for the whopping price of $5.99 (minus ten percent because of my iRewards card, even). At that price, I could also pick one up for Crone, since I know she is along the Celtic lines as well, so I did. (I'm not sure if Maiden would find it useful or not -- might pick one up for her anyway.)

I have been looking for something that would help me practice my faith on a daily basis, as bookends to my day. This book is exactly what I was hoping for.

Divided up into the four Celtic seasons (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh), it has both Morning Devotions and Evening Devotions for each day, as well as prayers for the opening and closing of each season, activities geared specifically for each season, and focus questions for each day of the month. In the section titled "The House of Life", there are prayers for every circumstance you can imagine, from blessings, to "soul-gatherings" (putting one's self back together), to prayers for courage. The layout of the book and the artwork scattered throughout are absolutely gorgeous, as well.

The part which I am most excited about is this: "The terms and metaphors by which the Divine is invoked in this devotional are sometimes neutral, sometimes gender-specific." (p12) I grew up calling God "God", and think of Him as, well, Him. It's not that I believe He's a boy -- I believe that the Divine has both male and female characteristics in equal parts -- but because I have always referred to the Divine as male, I continue to do so.

It's like if you have a friend who has suddenly started going by his or her middle name -- that friend will be First Name to you for a very long time. In this case I see no need to change what is simply a reference word. In the same vein, I don't see why anyone who refers to the Divine as "Goddess" should have to change how they speak/feel/think, either. (I tried to explain my feelings on this to Maiden and Crone one night, but I'm not yet articulate in speaking about my spirituality, and it came out in a jumbled mess.)

To make a long post a bit shorter, I am thrilled to pieces with finding this book and am looking forward to using it on a daily basis. It's exactly what I've been looking for all this time.

Thank you, Caitlin Matthews.

Celtic Tree Month of Willow

2009-04-15T08:17:00.000-03:00

* 5th Moon of the Celtic Year - (April 15 - May 12)

* Latin name: Weeping Willow: salix babylonica; black Willow: salix nigra

* Celtic name: Saille (Sahl' yeh)

* Folk or Common names: Willow, Witch's Tree, Pussy Willow, Salicyn Willow, Saille, Sally, Withe, Withy, Witches' Aspirin, Tree of Enchantment, Osier, Tarvos Tree, and Sough Tree. The Anglo-Saxon 'welig' from where the name 'willow' is derived, means 'pliancy'.

* Parts Used: Bark, sap, twigs, branches, wood.

* Herbal usage: The bark of the Willow has been used as a pain killer... the bark contains a glusoside called salicin that forms salicylylous acid which is the 'active ingredient' in aspirin. The bark has astringic qualities and can be used for rheumatic conditions, heartburn and as a diuretic. The sap gathered from the tree when it is flowering can be used to treat facial blemishes and dandruff.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle. The Willow, a Feminine herb, is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. The bird associated with this month is the hawk, the color is haze, and the gemstone is blood-red carbuncle.

The Willow is associated with water, and is an herb of the moon. Willow wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane - as the tree of death that is Sacred to Hecate, Willow is added to the fire as a celebration of death. The Willow is sacred to Minerva who invented numbers and also to Artemis, Ceres, Persephone, Brigid, Hera, Helice, Mercury, Belili, and Circe. The Sumerian goddess Belili was a goddess of trees, and Willows in particular. The Willow is also associated with Orpheus, regarded by the Creeks as the most celebrated of poets. It is said that Orpheus received his gifts of eloquence and communication by carrying Willow branches on his journey through the Underworld. A bas-relief in a temple at Delphi portrays Orpheus leaning against a Willow tree, touching its branches.

Pagan associations with the Willow have always been strong, for they are often revered as trees of the MoonGoddess, she who reflects her moon magic upon the waters of Earth. Willow was often the tree most sought by the village wise-woman, since it has so many medicinal properties, and eventually the Willow's healing and religious qualities became one and the tree became called 'witch's tree'.

The Willow is also associated with the fey. The wind in the Willows is the whisperings of a fairy in the ear of a poet. It is also said that Willow trees can uproot themselves and stalk travelers at night, muttering at them.

* Magickal usage: The Willow has applications in magick done for enchantment, wishing, romantic love, healing, protection, fertility, magick for women, death, femininity, love, divination, friendship, joy, love, and peace.

Placed in homes, Willow branches protect against evil and malign sorcery. Carried, Willow wood will give bravery, dexterity, and help one overcome the fear of death. If you knock on a Willow tree (knock on wood) this will avert evil. A Willow tree growing near a home will protect it from danger. Willows are also a good tree to plant around cemeteries and also for lining burial graves for its symbolism of death and protection.

Willows can be used in rituals for intuition, knowledge, gentle nurturing, and will elucidate the feminine qualities of both men and women. If a person needs to get something off their chest or to share a secret, if they confess to a Willow, their secret will be trapped. Also, wishes are granted by a Willow tree if they are asked for in the correct manner.

Willow leaves, bark and wood add energy to healing magick, and burning a mix of Willow bark and sandalwood during the waning moon can help to conjure spirits. Uses of Willow in love talismans include using the leaves to attract love. Willow leaves or twigs can also be used in spells to create loyalty, make friendship pacts, treaties, or alliances. A rejected lover can wear Willow as a charm to win back the love.

To determine if you will be married in the new year:

"Throw your shoe high up
into the branches of a Willow tree;
If the branches catch and hold the shoe,
you soon will married be."

Willows have many uses to Witches, the most common is that the wood is used to make wands for moon magick. Willow wands can also be used to dowse for water (underground), earth energies, and buried objects. (The Witch should be careful to ask for the tree's blessings before taking a branch to make a wand.) The supple long ending branches of the Willow make good weaving materials to use to weave circlets and wreaths. Willow wood is good for making magical harps.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

And winter returns.

2009-04-12T09:09:00.000-03:00

Although we are three weeks into spring, it's hard to tell by looking out the window. We are in the middle of a snowfall warning and everything outside is coated in a thin mixture of ice and snow. As my love points out to me, it won't last long, but it is still discouraging, nonetheless. I had hoped to begin looking for mayflowers before long.

I just went to check on my poor crocuses. I noticed on Friday that they were blooming, so I thought the least I could do would be to dust the snow off them. I've known them to come up through snow, so hopefully this last gasp of winter won't affect them.

To my Christian friends, a happy and joyous Easter. Enjoy the spirit of renewal and hope that this day means to you. I truly wish you well.

To my pagan friends, happy Sunday and Cheap-Bunny-Shaped-Chocolate-at-the-Stores Day! Try not to overindulge!

I should get this tattooed on my forehead.

2009-04-06T20:53:00.000-03:00

"Life is a series of spontaneous changes.
Don't resist them -- that only creates sorrow."
~Lao Tzu

Tranquil/Troubled

2009-03-30T09:33:00.000-03:00

This past weekend, I spent a glorious hour or so wandering in the snowy woods. The snow is melting, exposing the brilliant green of the mossy rocks and the shades of rust of the various dead leaves and fallen needles. I stopped next to a massive birch and laid both of my bare hands on it, concentrating in the silence until I could feel the soft hum of life beneath its bark. I stood there for a long time, just listening through my hands, and gradually felt at peace.

If only everything else were this simple.

Our Circle is broken, and it's partly my fault. Our last Sabbat celebration was cancelled, partly because of illness, and probably partly because of disgust. I think Crone (who is in a fragile place to begin with) feels that she's doing all the work, and in a lot of ways, she's right. She doesn't hear from us until the day before we get together, and this last time, when talking to Crone the night before, I forgot that I was doing the meditation. (Although, in my defence, I write well and it was in my Palm as a reminder to do on Ostara because I do my best work when inspired by the actual timing.)

I, of course, am wracked with guilt, feeling like I've dropped the ball, and have things to atone for, and yet I refuse to apologize to an answering machine. But Crone is not returning my calls, and Maiden is, well, occupied with being a Maiden (and there's nothing wrong with being young when you're young), and things are a mess.

I honestly don't know what to do. Crawling back into my solitary closet is appealing, but not an option. These people mean too much to me -- I can't just walk away.

I think I'm going to go talk with some more trees now.

Celtic Tree Month of Alder

2009-03-18T07:45:00.000-03:00

Wise words.

2009-03-02T18:22:00.000-04:00

"You don't have to like me for who I am, but we'll see what you're made of by what you make of me." -- Ani Difranco

The Circle

2009-02-21T09:22:00.000-04:00

Last night, Maiden, Crone and I got together for a much-needed evening of Tarot, tea, sharing of knowledge, and just good old-fashioned cackling. (I'm particularly looking forward to a repeat of Crone's muffin experiment at Beltaine!)

I love hanging out with my soul sisters. We are all at different phases of our lives, facing different challenges and changes. It has been a rough winter for all three of us, for varying reasons, but when we are together, there is a strength -- an energy -- that fuels and heals us all.

We tried a new Tarot spread -- an astrological one. All three of us had our cards read in sequence; first Maiden, then me, then Crone. We had never used this particular spread before, and as much as I love the Celtic Cross, it was exciting to try something new. It never ceases to amaze me at how "bang on" the cards can sometimes be.

A couple of the lessons that I took away from my reading were that I should be rekindling my love of writing, and that I should have more faith in my creative abilities -- that I'm holding myself back. Both of these messages ring true, so I'm going to tuck them away in my heart.

Here is a picture of my astrological Tarot spread. (The candy was how we kept track of which card represented the First House, in case you're wondering!) I love the fact that the card for my First House is the Three of Cups, as this is the card always makes me think of our Circle. Three Queens of Cups, coming together in celebration of life, spirit, and each other.

Celtic Tree Month of Ash

2009-02-18T20:53:00.000-04:00

* 3rd Moon of the Celtic Year - (Feb 18 - March 17)

* Latin name: White Ash - fraxinus americana; European Ash - fraxinus excelsior; Flowering Ash - fraxinus ornus.

* Celtic name: Nion (pronounced: knee un)

* Folk or Common names: Ash, Common Ash, Unicorn Tree, Guardian Tree

* Parts Used: Leaves, wood, bark, twigs, sap, flowers

* Herbal usage: Ash leaves and the tender tops can be used in the spring to make a fasting tea that is a diuretic and can be used as a help for weight loss. Ash bark is known as a liver and spleen cleanser and can make the immune system stronger. The flowering Ash has sap that contains a sugary exudate called 'manna', which can be used as a laxative.

* Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with this month is the snipe, the color is half clear & half deep blue, and the gemstone is sea-green beryl. The Ash, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of water, the sun and Jupiter; and is sacred to Thor, Woden, Mars, Uranus and Gwydion.

Ash is also sacred to Odin since the Ash is often known as the Yggdrassil (or the 'Ash Yggdrasil') amongst the Scandinavian nations. In Norse mythology, the Yggdrassil supports the Universe, has three main branches and is believed to have sprung from the beginning of time out of primordial slime and ashes. The Ash is also the tree of the sea God Poseidon, because of its watery power. Frennett (frenetic chaos), a substance used by berserkers, may have been made from Ash bark.

The Ash was supposed to be serpent repellent - Pliny held that there is such an antipathy between an adder and an Ash-tree, "that if an adder be encompassed round with Ash-tree leaves, she will sooner run through the fire than through the leaves".

The ceremonial Yule log is often made of Ash - this log is kindled each Yule with a piece from last years fire and allowed to smolder for 12 days before it is ceremonially put out. The Ash tree is famous, although anonymous, since it's the tree from which the Hanged Man is suspended in tarot decks

* Magickal usage: The Ash was one of the sacred Druidic three: 'Oak, Ash & Thorn', and the month of Ash is a good time to do magick designed to learn your inner self. The Ash has applications in magick done for sea power, ocean rituals, karmic laws, magical potency, healing, protection from drowning, love, rain making, women's mysteries, prophetic dreams, general protection, Prosperity, and health.

Ash is often used for making both mundane and magical tools - it's said that tools with handles of Ash are more productive than tools with handles of other wood. Witches brooms often have the staff made from Ash, and Ash wood was used for spears and shields since it was known as a protective wood. Placing Ash berries in a cradle prevents the child from being traded for a changeling by an evil faery - and Ash talismans can be worn as protective amulets.

Ash is known to keep away serpents and to protect against their bite. If there are no snakes to be found, Ash can be used instead to keep away nasty people who are bitchy, quick to criticize, impatient, or psychic vampires.

Special guardian spirits reside in the Ash; This makes it excellent for absorbing sickness. The spirally carved Druidic wand was made of Ash for this healing purpose. In years gone by, weak-limbed children were passed through split ash trees which were then bound up. If the tree grew straight, the child would as well.

Ash can be used in medicine pouches or can be used in magick for wart remover: the wart is stuck with a pin that has first been thrust into an Ash, while these words are said:

"Ashen tree, Ashen tree, pray these warts off of me."

The pins are then stuck back in the tree and left.

The druids attributed special powers over water to the ash tree. They used its wood to make it rain or to ward off water's destructive power. The Ash is the tree of sea power, or of the power resident in water.

Ash leaves placed under the pillow will induce prophetic dreams, and carrying an Ash leaf will attract the love of the opposite sex.

The Ash is often called The Unicorn Tree, because unicorns are supposed to be fond of the tree. To catch a glimpse of a unicorn, carry Ash wood or leaves. Whenever you need to harvest a piece or part of an Ash tree, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch or other part and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

A thought.

2009-02-08T11:18:00.000-04:00

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect.

It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

(Wise words found on ScrapWitch's blog.)

Pot, Meet Kettle ...

2009-02-06T20:13:00.000-04:00

This is one of those stories that I hesitate to comment on, and yet find myself so irritated that I can't help it. When I saw this on the news the other night, I just shook my head.

Evidently, it would seem that atheists are tired of people of faith spreading it around, and feeling like it's being shoved down their throats.

Just one question: How is putting giant ads (slightly rude in tone) on the sides of buses any different? Why do they think that forcing their non-faith on people is any better?

Some Christian communities have launched a counter-offensive, with nearly identical ads saying, "There probably IS a God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Here's a thought. If you have given serious reflection to what you do or don't believe, and you are pretty sure of where you fall along the spirituality continuum, is a sign on the side of a bus going to change your mind? Or is it simply going to tick you off?

I think you can probably guess my reaction.

Celtic Tree Month of Rowan

2009-01-22T12:02:00.000-04:00

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

2008-12-25T19:47:00.000-04:00

From the Dark Comes Light

2008-12-21T10:50:00.000-04:00

Blessed Yule, everyone!

Last night I had such a wonderful time. We had a Yule gathering of family and friends at Crone's home. It was the first time I've ever actually celebrated Winter Solstice with others and it was wonderful!

Maiden and I went to Crone's to help her prepare the feast, and it was so much fun! Such a feast for the eyes, as well! Crone is a phenomenal hostess, and under her tutelage, Maiden and I helped to create an amazing buffet. (Crone said my cheese plate looked very "Queen Street West", a bistro area in Toronto. I am so proud!)

All in all, the party totaled about fifteen people, all gathered together around the cauldron for a simple solstice ritual, lighting candles and making wishes. Then we ate, compared cameras, ate some more, had a Yankee swap, ate some more, hugged and wished each other the best the season has to offer. My husband could not join us as he was ill, but my sister was there (she is also a friend of Crone's family), and it was such a place of love and warmth. I felt (and feel) so very blessed!

As the light flickers and gains strength, and the days become longer, may your blessings also grow. Happy Yule!

Wise words.

2008-12-08T11:12:00.000-04:00

"You don't need organized religion to connect with the universe. Often a church is the only place you can go to find peace and quiet... But it shouldn't be confused with connecting with one's spirit." -- Alice Walker

Hello, Old Friend.

2008-12-02T13:58:00.000-04:00

I know that I haven't been writing much on this blog, aside from updating the moons and Celtic tree months. From your end, I'd understand if it looked like I'm not paying any attention to my spirituality at all, or at least only as much as I have been. But the truth is, I'm actually actively practicing my faith for the first time since I realized who and what I was, way back in 2001. And I can't fully express how happy it makes me.

First of all, I have two "soul sisters". We are the Three Queens of Cups. We have a Maiden, a Mother, and a Crone. I'm the middle one. It feels a little odd to be calling myself the Mother when I have no children, but it is simply my age -- the point at which I am in my life. I am almost halfway between the ages of the Maiden and the Crone in our little circle, which in and of itself is interesting. Out of respect for their privacy, I shall only refer to the others by Maiden and Crone.

On the last full moon, we held our first ritual. We were joined by Maiden's mother, and it was so exciting and empowering. It was the first time I had taken part in a circle (I'm not going to count the only other time, as it was more of a stage-show for a self-dedicated High Priestess type). We came together and celebrated and it was a new beginning -- the beginning of something good.

Last night, we three met to plan our next full moon ritual and our Yule celebration. Being the least experienced of the three, I am still learning and so can only contribute so much this far, but I am excited. I will be taking care of the cakes and ale for our next ritual (I called the quarters last time), and I'm looking for suitable recipes. For Yule, we are having a family gathering (no ritual -- just a get-together) and it will be just a small, intimate group of those closest to us. I feel so dofferent this December, as if I'm having new life breathed into me. I am so grateful for my soul sisters. I am grateful to have a safe place to celebrate and practice and just be myself. It is the greatest gift.

I will try to post here more often, and on a more personal level than I have been lately. Part of it is that I'm so used to "being in the broom closet" that I'm actually not used to talking about my spirituality. It's not fear, exactly -- more like just being out of practice. It doesn't occur to me to write about it because it's such a hidden (and sometimes almost forgotten) part of my daily life.

My husband is being so very supportive -- I honestly couldn't ask for a better response from him. When I first realized who and what I was , years ago, he was quite wary. But as time has gone by, and as he's seen that I really am the same person he married, but that I have just been able to define myself better, he has not only accepted it but has come to embrace it somewhat. He has picked up books for me that he thought I might find useful, and he has mentioned that he wanted to get me a Witches' Calendar but wasn't sure if it was the right one. While he doesn't ask questions, exactly, he is very open to what I want to explain. I am truly blessed.

So please don't take my silence as an indication that things are not going well. They are going very well indeed. (smile)

Celtic Tree Month of Elder

2008-11-25T17:51:00.000-04:00

Blessed Samhain.

2008-10-31T21:11:00.000-03:00

Right about now, all of the trick-or-treaters are sitting in the middle of their floors, their loot spread out around them. Mischief-makers are out smashing pumpkins or twirling toilet paper, and for others, this is just another night.

For pagans, Samhain marks the end of one cycle of the Wheel's turning, and the beginning of another. As surely as Life begins, Death will follow it. It is a natural, inevitable part of the cycle, and one that we need to embrace with as much acceptance as we do the warmth of the Sun at Litha.

I have taken some time tonight to reflect on the previous year, and that one still to come. I have spread my cards and reflected upon them, and recorded them so that I can look back on them as the year progresses. And I have tried to convince myself that the impending darkness is what makes the Spring seem so bright.

This new year brings new beginnings. I have, after years of being in a solitary broom closet, become part of a circle. I am no longer all alone. The three of us, the Queens of Cups (Maiden, Mother, and Crone) will celebrate the Mourning Moon, together for the first time, in a couple of weeks. I will call the quarters. I am excited and nervous and thrilled. And, most of all, I am happy.

Is it any wonder that the card that came up for November was The Fool (0)?

My candle is burning low now, and my feline familiar is insisting on being let into the room with me. I don't remember him being quite this vocal before. (He must know I'm practicing some magic without him. I just didn't want him to singe his whiskers!)

May this Sabbat bring you many blessings as we reflect upon and remember those who have come before us.

Celtic Tree Month of Reed (Elm)

2008-10-28T21:29:00.000-03:00

Catching up.

2008-10-18T08:25:00.000-03:00

Something wonderful happened this week. I finally made it to my friend's Tarot study group. Although I don't want to say too much about the evening, I will say that it was a wonderful illustration of things being "meant to be", and it was so incredible to be "among my own kind".

This monthly meeting is something that I'm going to do my best to attend as much as humanly possible. It was so good to be there among friends, new and old. Besides, I miss using my cards, and without a little bit of a nudge, I don't seem to take them out. Life gets in the way too much. (Look how "often" this blog gets updated, for example.)

In other Tarot news, a friend of mine gave me a gift yesterday, a gently used (if at all) Shakespeare Oracle set. As someone who appreciates both different interpretations of Tarot and The Bard, I have been really enjoying these cards. They're a little hard to shuffle, as they're a bit larger than standard, but they feel good.

Thank you, Friend! It was very thoughtful of you, and I will treasure them and think of you.

Celtic Tree Month of Ivy

2008-09-30T07:33:00.000-03:00

Guilty?

2008-09-28T21:24:00.000-03:00

Just had this little analysis done via Facebook. Do you think it sounds like me?

Sun 14°Pi30:
You can be very sympathetic, idealistic, compassionate, sensitive to the needs of others and imaginative, but avoid being unsympathetic especially to those who are closest to you! Impractical. Inspired by sadness, ocean, soft music & spirituality.

Moon 13°Aq16:
You have a cool, scintillating quality and respond more to affection than passion. One parent usually original but erratic. You express your feelings in unemotional ways. Careful of spine and circulation problems. Manipulative but concerned for society.

Mercury 29°Aq26:
You have an original and inventive mind but can be very erratic. Objective, progressive but rather impersonal. Excellent for computers, advertising, marketing, media and new ideas. Avoid manipulation and cool sarcasm. Often ahead of time but stubborn.

Venus 24°Pi07:
You are very romantic and extremely idealistic in love matters. Emotionally very vulnerable, unrealistic and easily hurt in love but tend to place loved ones on a pedestal. You need romance and fantasy in marriage to avoid other deceptive relationships.

Mars 28°Ar53:
You have sudden bursts of high energy but need to finish things before the challenge is over. Excellent for sports but careful of fast cars and head injuries. Often migraines, scar near eye- brows and sugar problems. Can be very aggressive and hasty.

I think it probably does ... perhaps a bit too much.

Too sad to watch.

2008-09-13T19:19:00.000-03:00

I lost a good friend today.

I went in to work on my day off to try to get a few things done, and all the while I worked, I could hear the sounds of power tools. I didn't think much of it as there are only two seasons here where I live -- winter and construction -- but when I came out to my car, my heart dropped into my stomach.

The great elm tree in the parking lot across the street was being taken down.

It was towering, and lush, and regardless of what sort of day I was having, I always welcomed its sight. Just looking at it calmed me -- a connection to Earth in the midst of so much pavement and brick.

The elm tree was easily forty years old, probably more, and when I saw the people with the chainsaws gleefully cutting its great boughs without any sort of compassion, I couldn't turn my head fast enough. The image of the tree, stripped of nearly all of its branches, with only the very top crowned in so many green leaves, is burned into my memory, no matter how hard I try to banish it.

I wonder if its brother, the great horse chestnut in the diagonally opposite corner, will meet a similar fate.

They paved paradise / put up a parking lot ...

Celtic Tree Month of Vine

2008-09-02T17:11:00.000-03:00

Celtic Tree Month of Hazel

2008-08-05T07:52:00.000-03:00

Early morning rain ...

2008-07-21T05:09:00.000-03:00

At around 3 AM, I woke to the sound of the rain coming down. I listened to it for a long time, trying to lull myself back to sleep, but to no avail.

At precisely 4 AM, a single bird started singing, and he has been doing so ever since. If I were not so tired, I could probably wax philosophical on the fact that, despite being rained upon, this bird is still joyfully heralding the dawn of a new day.

But really ... all I want to do is go back to sleep.

Music, music, music ...

2008-07-11T12:53:00.000-03:00

One of the things I love about iTunes is that I can just turn on one of their "radio stations" and let it go. My favourite station is "Pagan Radio" (under "Religious") because I get to hear a lot of music I wouldn't otherwise.

A lot of pagan music tends to be the sort of thing that makes me cringe -- high-pitched Celtic female voices, or mumbled incantations. But there is a lot of good stuff, too. In truth, I tend to prefer the instrumental side of things, and there's lots of that played, as well.

Today's new discovery for me is the music of the Dragon Ritual Drummers. It's really hypnotic and catchy, all at the same time. So far all I've heard is "Abmas", but I think I'll be looking into finding some more of their music.

Here's a thought.

2008-07-11T08:55:00.000-03:00

Perhaps we are not physical bodies that occasionally go to a spiritual place.

Perhaps we are spiritual beings that occasionally inhabit physical bodies.

Preparing for the Move

2008-07-10T07:33:00.000-03:00

I went out and had a chat with the Hawthorn the other day, gently untangling it from the wild peas it was laying in and lifting it up to its full spindly height. This conversation taught me two important lessons: 1) The Hawthorn will die if I leave it where it is, and 2) HawTHORNs are aptly named.

Transplanting a Hawthorn should be done in the spring, I've learned, and since it's already summer, I should really do this sooner rather than later. Roots do their growing in the autumn, so if she's in her new home soon, it might give her a chance to stabilize before the snow. I've looked in the almanac and both tomorrow and Saturday are forecast to be good days for planting. I hope they are also good for transplanting.

In typical Rowan style, I've been doing some research on the Internet to get some advice on this particular project. These two links from the University of Minnesota have been particularly helpful:

I've looked, and Minnesota is in the 4a Plant Hardiness Zone, and I live in 5a, so hopefully it's not too big of a difference between them. (After all, I can drive and be in 4a in about an hour.)

Wish us luck.

An Open Letter to Kathie Lee Gifford

2008-07-08T15:13:00.000-03:00

Dear Kathie Lee,

I'm normally pretty easy-going, and when I heard all of the hullabaloo about what you recently said about pagans on the Today show, I had to look at the video and decide for myself.

Now, normally I think the best of people. I figured that it might've been just innocent ignorance on your part. "Oh," I thought. "Maybe she just doesn't realize." True, your tone was pretty hateful, but I honestly didn't think you knew what you were saying.

But then I saw the video where you "apologize", and, frankly, you made this normally easy-going girl fairly angry, and so I have a few things to say.

First of all, yes, there are "nasty" and "bad" pagans, the same way that there are "nasty" and "bad" people of all different faiths and spiritualities. For example, it is well-known that you are a Christian and take pride in your faith, but I would certainly not declare that all Christians are sanctimonious, ignorant and spiteful, just because you appear to be all those things.

Regardless of whether or not you feel you should apologize, taking an entire religious group and characterizing them in the most negative of terms, in the most snide tone possible, then making a mockery of an apology, is still wrong. This kind of hateful behaviour, when let to slide by, time and time again, eventually becomes acceptable. Taken to extremes, it can ultimately lead to genocide. You might think I'm being overly dramatic, but do you really think Hitler felt he needed to apologize to the Jews?

I try to think the best of most people, and I respect people's rights to choose their spiritual path (even if it should be none at all). But, Kathie Lee, I find you repugnant, and you are doing your Church an utter disservice by being such a shining example of intolerance, arrogance, and ignorance.

Neither "nasty" or "bad" (most of the time),
Rowan Brooks

PS -- How are those warts coming along? Frog in your throat?

Celtic Tree Month of Holly

2008-07-07T19:46:00.000-03:00

* 8th Moon of the Celtic Year - (July 8 - Aug 4)

* Latin name: English Holly (also called Scarlet Oak) - ilex aquilfolium; American holly - ilex opaca. The Holly is an evergreen tree.

* Celtic name: Tinne (pronounced: chihn' uh)

* Folk or Common names: Holly, Scarlet Oak, Kerm-Oak, Holy Tree. Holly actually means "holy".

* Parts Used: Leaf, berry, wood.

* Herbal usage: The leaf of the Holly can be dried and used as teas for fevers, bladder problems and bronchitis. The juice of the fresh leaf is helpful in jaundice treatment. Holly can be used homeopathically as a substitute for quinine. Note: Holly berries are poisonous!
* Magical History & Associations: The Holly, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of fire, and is an herb of Saturn and Mars. The bird associated with this month is the starling, the color is green-gray, the gemstone is yellow caingorm, and the day of the week association is Tuesday.

Holly is the first moon of the dark half of the year, and the Holly is sacred to both the Winter and Summer Solstices. Summer Solstice is the time when in mythology, the Oak King is slain by his twin, or tanist, the Holly King, who rules until the Winter Solstice, when he in turn is slain by his tanist, the Oak King. Tanist is related to the tannin found in an Oak tree; Oak and Holly are two sides of the same coin, the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

The Holly is also sacred to the deities of Lugh, Habondia, Tina Etruscan and Tannus. There are special spirits that dwell within Holly trees: the Holly Man lives in the tree that bears prickly Holly, and the Holly Woman dwells within that which give forth smooth and variegated leaves. Holly is also associated with unicorns, since the unicorn is one of the Celtic symbols for this tree - the other symbol is the Flaming Spear.

* Magickal usage: The month of Holly is a good time to do magick designed to help bring about a successful harvest. The Holly has applications in magick done for protection, prophesy, healing, magick for animals, sex magick, invulnerability, watchfulness, good luck, death, rebirth, Holiness, consecration, material gain, physical revenge, beauty and travel. Holly also has the ability to enhance other forms of magic.

As a symbol of firmness and masculine energy, Hollywood was used by the ancients in the construction of spear shafts, which were thought to then have magickal powers. Uses of Holly in protective magick includes hanging a sprig of Holly in the home all year to insure protection and good luck. Holly is also an excellent charm to wear for protection.

'Holly Water' can be made by soaking Holly overnight in spring water under a full moon. This water can then be sprinkled over infants to keep them happy and safe. Holly Water can also be used to sprinkle around the house for psychic cleansing and protection. Holly leaves can be cast around outside to repel unwanted spirits or animals and a Holly bush can be planted close to houses to protect against lightning. Ensure that the Holly has a place in your garden because its presence wards off unfriendly spirits. Do not burn Holly branches unless they are well and truly dead, for this is unlucky. Holly, intertwined with ivy, is traditionally made into crowns for the bride and groom at weddings/handfastings. Holly and Ivy also make excellent decorations for altars. Holly is also a traditional decoration for Yuletide as in sung in the traditional Yuletide song:

"Deck the halls with boughs of Holly, fa la la la la, la la la la."

If you gather nine Holly leaves in complete silence on a Friday after midnight, wrap them up in a white cloth, use nine knots to bind the cloth, and then place them under your pillow, your dreams will come true. When harvesting the leaves from the Holly, remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take the parts and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. Holly favors red and yellow stones as gifts.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)

Gifts of the Earth

2008-07-07T17:43:00.000-03:00

I have been far too preoccupied with "indoor matters" of late, so today I decided it was time for me to simply go outside for a little while. It was a beautiful day, so I decided to get in touch with my yard.

What prompted this little promenade? Well, one of the things I have wanted to do is to plant as many of the Celtic Trees of the Year in my yard as I can. Given that I already have a few Rowans and Birches, I was thinking I'd go to a local "woodsy" area and see if I could adopt a Hawthorn. I was thinking this very thing when I started up my driveway and noticed a very familiar-looking bush growing out of a narrow patch of earth between the asphalt of the driveway and the concrete retaining wall.

Sure enough: it's a Hawthorn. I'm going to have to transplant it, though, because it won't survive where it is. It's taller than I am, but is bent over, unable to spread its roots enough to support itself. I am a little afraid to try to move it (after all, I'm practically herbicide in human form), but I think it will die where it is if I don't at least try.

After discovering the Hawthorn that had been under my nose all this time, I decided to take that little life lesson and spend some time looking around.

Being early July, the wild strawberries in my front lawn are growing like mad. (They are also very tasty -- much better than the ones I bought at the grocery store on Saturday.)

I looked at the blueberries, and they are coming along nicely. A few more weeks and I can harvest them to go along with my breakfast cereal.

The roses in the backyard are blooming, much to the delight of the many bumblebees. It smells heavenly back there by the rose bush -- so much so that I nearly forgot my fear of snakes in the long grass. (I'm not really one for snakes at all, and spiders bigger than my thumbnail need not apply, either.)

Some of the roses are past their prime, but many are still in bud, so I'll be able to enjoy them for several weeks to come.

Our rose bush is quite wild, and I think I like it that way. It's big and rambling and thoroughly untamed. Just looking at it makes me happy.

There are other flowers in the yard as well, although most gardeners would just refer to them as "weeds".

I've loved buttercups ever since I was a kid, holding them under my friends' chins to see the yellow reflection tint the skin. Is it just me, or were things a lot simpler then? This sense of nostalgia is probably a sure sign that I'm getting old.

The other thing I remembered doing as a child was picking daisies and placing them in water that was tinted with food colouring. The daisies would draw the coloured water up into their stalks and gradually the white petals would change colours. When you are six years old, that's magic!

The last flowers I took pictures of are of a completely unknown variety to me. All I know is that rabbits love to eat them! They grow so thickly that it's almost like tall flowering grass instead of individual stalks. I think they're so dainty and pretty.

One of these days I'll get around to planting a proper garden in my yard. But for now, I think I will simply enjoy the one that Gaia has planted for me.

Blessed Solstice

2008-06-20T14:12:00.000-03:00

I had no real plans for how I was going to celebrate Litha (the Summer Solstice) -- I was just certain I was going to do something.

So I headed out to a large local park with my dog. It's the sort of place where there are lots of trails winding through the trees, leading to deserted, rocky ocean beaches. It was a pity I had to keep the dog on a leash, but it was still so good to be outside, surrounded by Nature.

This is one of a handful of pictures I snapped while we were wandering. I was really taken by the way that the trees and sky were reflecting in the shallow pool of water, contrasting with the green ferns and moss.

The sun doesn't go down until 9:16 PM. I'm sure I can find some mischief to get into before then.

Mercury Retrograde is Over!

2008-06-19T14:39:00.000-03:00

About three times a year, for about three weeks, the astrological equivalent of "Murphy's Law" rears its ugly head.

Mercury Retrograde is a time when things having to do with communication can often go completely haywire.

But it's over now, so we can all breathe a little easier (until the next one, at least -- starting September 24).

(Maybe then I'll write more about it, assuming the blog doesn't vapourize or something.)

Personal Power

2008-06-11T16:49:00.000-03:00

I found this on the 2 Witches Blog. It really spoke to me, so I thought I would share it here.

Reclaiming My Power

My body has been bruised, misused, and neglected.
My body has been shared, caressed, and served me well.
My body ages with time, scarred and often aches.

My heart has been broken and my words twisted.
My feelings have been stomped and thoughts betrayed.
My heart has trusted, loved and been loved in return.

My time has been wasted, stolen and slips away.
My energy has been drained, misdirected and misguided.
My time has been enjoyed and my energy shared, creative and healing.

I can share my body, heart and mind, and even my time.
But my power is my own, if I give it away then all is lost.
By reclaiming my power, my soul is whole.

My soul empowered life unfolds as it should.
Meaning and balance can be found within the chaos.
My body, heart and mind are renewed, and can be joyfully shared.

So mote it be.

Celtic Tree Month of Oak

2008-06-10T08:25:00.000-03:00

Bill C-51

2008-06-08T22:16:00.000-03:00

I'm hearing a lot on my email groups about the proposed legislation, Bill C-51, which is an amendment to the Food and Drug Act. What I'm hearing isn't good, so I decided to look into it myself.

The First Reading version of the text of Bill C-51 can be found here.

Like most parliamentary bills, it's a little difficult to wade through -- the amount of "governmentese" makes one wonder if this was actually written in one's own country, because it seems so foreign. But there's a lot of talk about it in certain circles (pardon the pun), and it has even prompted the creation of The Official Stop C-51 Website.

Although on the surface, changing the legislation looks like a good thing (updating to go with the current times, rather than becoming antiquated and useless), the amendments in this bill will make it virtually impossible for people wishing to use natural health products to do so. By throwing in a lot of bureaucracy and threats of searches, seizures, expenses and prosecutions, it will eliminate that choice.

I haven't read through the bill completely yet, but I have read the legal review of it on the Stop C-51 Website, and this really sounds like Big Brother is getting too big for his britches. A lot of innocent people -- natural health care providers and consumers alike -- are going to get hurt by this if it goes through.

According to the Stop C-51 Website, Bill C-51 Will:

Allow Government agents to:
-Enter private property without a warrant -- Section 23 (4)
-Confiscate property at their discretion, at cost to the natural health provider -- Section 23.3 a
-Dispose of property at their discretion, at cost to the natural health provider -- Section 23.3 c
-Seize natural health providers' bank accounts without a warrant -- Section 23 (2) (d)
-Charge natural health providers for shipping and storage of their property -- Section 23.3a-b
-Store property indefinitely without paying for damages -- Section 23 (2) (d)
-Levy fines of up to $5,000,000.00 / 2 years in jail per offence. -- Section 31.1

Introduce new legislation that will:
-Allow laws to be created in Canada, behind closed doors, with the assistance of foreign governments, industrial and trade organizations -- Section 30.7
-Allow "Crack house style" of enforcement on natural health providers -- Section 23.1
-Allow enforcement to be considered on more than 70% of Canadians who use NHP's -- Health Canada Reference
-Allow the minister, based on opinion, to shut down research without any scientific reason or evidence of risk or harm -- Section 18.5
-Allow the minister, based on opinion, to allow or disallow market authorizations for Natural Health Products -- Section 18.7 (1)

Read the information for yourself, and if you think this bill is as dangerous as I think it might be, contact your MP. After all, that's why they get paid the big bucks -- to work on our behalf.

There is joy in the spring ...

2008-06-08T19:56:00.000-03:00

There are many things for which I am known, but having a green thumb is not one of them. (For those of you who are wondering about last year's much-loved lavender plant, it's dead. I forgot to bring it in for the winter.)

When you love plants and flowers but aren't really good at keeping them alive, you tend to appreciate the "automatic" ones even more.

I have a few lilac bushes in my backyard and they are beginning to bloom. Their season is so short that I bring large bunches of them into the house, to enjoy them as much as possible.

So here is a picture of my lilacs for you to enjoy.

It has been a wonderful weekend. Yesterday, I managed to visit a wonderful store called The White Lotus, in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately it was fifteen minutes before closing when I arrived there, but I enjoyed what time I had. They had a wonderful variety of things -- I especially enjoyed looking at the stones and drums -- and seemed to carry a lot of organic/holistic items as well. I hope to go back and visit someday, when I have more time and money. (I did manage to bring home a tiny brass bell, a couple of smudge bundles and a wonderful incense stick burner. I prefer to use cones, but you can't always get the scents you need in cones.)

I love living where I do, but I really wish I didn't have to go to another province in order to visit such a store. Sometimes a pointy-hatted girl just wants to be able to browse.

Carl Sagan: Pale Blue Dot

2008-06-04T20:23:00.000-03:00

This made me smile.

2008-06-02T08:20:00.000-03:00

"The Hug a Tree Project was started due to the realisation of the need to promote love, affection, and interaction between humans and nature - especially trees. Hugging a tree is both beneficial for the treehugger and the tree being hugged. The healing power for both of the parties should not be underestimated. ..."

I wonder if they would like a Canadian branch. Bad puns aside, I really like this idea.

Of course, if I started it over here, I'd have to deal with any resulting media interest, which could be problematic due to my broom closet status. And then if the fact that I am a closeted witch came out, there'd be the whole "you must come out because you owe it to your fellow witches" versus "I completely understand why she's in the closet -- they all just want to see us burn" thing. Before I'd know it, it would be an all-out Witch War, and then who would have time to hug the trees?

Being a witch is just so darn complicated sometimes.

In times like these ...

2008-05-15T10:00:00.000-03:00

... why is it that one's spirituality drops to the bottom of the list of priorities? How can we nurture others if we neglect to nurture ourselves?

I have just added and back-dated two months' worth of Celtic tree information, and I've updated the moons and Sabbat info. I have not only been neglecting the blog, but pretty much my entire inner being as well.

Case in point: Every night before going to sleep, I look at my to-do list on my PDA and change "update almanac info on PDA" to "tomorrow". And I never do it.

One reader, my beloved "L", asked what I did for Beltaine. The sad thing is, I don't really remember.

I have, however, been delighting in the reawakening of the Earth. I have been smiling as I wake each morning to the chaotic concert of the birds, and I've been smiling at the carpet of dandelions that appeared overnight.

I have been stopping to smell the roses.

I just haven't been making it a priority to do so.

Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn

2008-05-13T09:55:00.000-03:00

Celtic Tree Month of Willow

2008-04-15T07:59:00.000-03:00

Indeed.

2008-03-30T10:20:00.000-03:00

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy
is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone
with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does
one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see
people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
-- Anne Frank

Celtic Tree Month of Alder

2008-03-18T10:28:00.000-03:00

Celtic Tree Month of Ash

2008-02-20T01:38:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why this surprises me.

2008-01-29T13:04:00.000-04:00

You need to read this to believe it:

Beauty pageant dumps tarot card reading judge

So much for Toronto being the most progressive city in Canada.

My "favourite" part of the article?

"We want to be in line with God's word when it comes to this type of activity and this isn't anywhere near God's word," he said.

Yeah. And beauty pageants, an activity fuelled by lust, vanity, and envy, are obviously the epitome of "God's word".

(shaking my head in disbelief)

Celtic Tree Month of Rowan

2008-01-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

I need to keep up with this blog ...

2008-01-24T08:12:00.000-04:00

But I never seem to have anything to say when I have time, and no time when I have something to say.

I'll do better. Honest.

Rescue Botany.

2008-01-14T08:30:00.000-04:00

There are two types of plants on Mother Earth that I can keep alive. One is a philodendron, which helpfully wilts when it needs water. The other is a jade plant which can seemingly go months without water (or at least wait until I catch up with the philodendron).

Passing the floral section of the grocery store the other day, I felt compelled to stop at the potted plant display. There, on the $3.99 rack, was the most pitiful jade plant I had ever seen. Its succulent leaves, normally deep green, smooth and rubbery, were shriveled and coursed with wrinkles.

"It needs me," I told my husband as I placed it on the cashier's conveyor belt.

Repotting it was very easy -- it had been so long since it had been watered that the cheap plastic pot fell off it when I grasped the base of the plant. I put it into a nice terra cotta pot and gave it a very gentle shower in the kitchen sink.

It's sitting in front of me at the moment, here on the computer desk, and it looks much happier. It's not fully recovered, by any means, but the wrinkles are mostly gone, as the leaves fill with moisture again.

Somewhere I have an article on plant familiars. I wonder if perhaps this one is now mine.

Redecorating.

2008-01-03T18:33:00.000-04:00

I decided that the decor around this blog was a little dull, so I asked my friend KJ if she'd custom-make a new header for me. I LOVE IT!

Thanks, KJ!

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

2007-12-24T08:49:00.000-04:00

Winter Storm

2007-12-16T22:56:00.000-04:00

It's wild out there. Every few minutes, the wind violently changes direction, hurling ice pellets against my bedroom window. The noise is harsh, almost angry, and I'm glad to be curled up safe in my bed.

I hope that this continues until dawn. It should make for some beautiful pictures.

(Naturally, being a witch, I have lots of candles handy, should the power fail.)

Sweet dreams.

A Card at a Time

2007-12-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

Last night I finally started working on my Tarot notebook. I didn't want to do too much on it last night because the moon was void of course all day, and I usually avoid starting new things in such a situation, but I did write up a page and decide on how I wanted to organize things.

My plan is, after putting in notes on question-phrasing and correspondences, to do a card at a time. I always learn better by writing, so I'm not only making a compilation to study from, but I'm studying as I go.

I'm using a few different books, plus notes from a course I took, as sources. I'm also thinking I might put some pictures in as well, but both of my printers are out of order at the moment.

In other news ... Today is supposed to be a good day for networking and business matters, so I decided to stop procrastinating (out of fear of rejection) and made an appointment to go see about a consolidation loan. If you've got some extra "good vibes" handy around 3 PM Eastern time, I'd appreciate you sending them my way. I've prepared things as best I can (figured out the numbers, put my facts together, decided what to say, and burnt some "prosperity" incense to boot), so let's all cross our fingers, shall we?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

2007-12-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

Sometimes there are things that poke at you. They aren't things that you feel particularly enraged about. They are just things that, well, bug you. And this time of year, there are a few things that bug me.

1) "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". Um, no, actually. Last time I checked, the seasons were caused by Earth spinning away on her twenty-three-and-a-half-degree axis as she journeys around the sun. And we won't get into the whole "the Romans decided to celebrate Jesus' birth at the Winter Solstice to steal the pagan festival" thing, because it has been done to death. If you are the one person on the planet who doesn't know what I mean, just Google "pagan traditions Christmas" to give you enough redundant reading material to keep you busy until next December.

2) "Keep Christ in Christmas". Well, to be honest, I support this one. If you are going to have a celebration for someone, it would be nice to keep the guest of honour at the centre of the thing. Just please don't use "Keep Christ in Christmas" as being synonymous with "Jesus is the Reason for the Season".

3) Don't assume that because I'm pagan, it is my "spiritual duty" to shun Christmas carols just because they have the name "Jesus" in them. I love singing about Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer, too.

4) Rampant commercialism. It makes me want to throw up. Can't we just be happy with the little things? Can't we just show each other we care with little thoughtful gestures, and not big-screen TVs, or, gods forbid, cars with big red bows on them? Can't we just find ways to say "you matter to me" without getting ourselves deep into debt? Just a thought.

5) People who get their knickers in a knot over "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings". It is not "political correctness run amok". It's a way of saying, "We might not have the same celebration, but my wish for joy and peace for you is the same."

Okay, I'm done ranting. Thank you for listening. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled programming.

PDA of Shadows

2007-12-09T20:09:00.000-04:00

Each year, I buy three different witchy almanacs: Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook, Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, and the Seasons of the Witch Daily Planner. The problem is, being a broom closet baby means I can't just schlep these things around with me on a daily basis. (Too many questions to answer. My buddy Mav says that he doesn't think anyone would really care, but I'm not ready to test that theory just yet.)

So I have taken to inputting daily info into my Palm. Moon sign and void of course info, and things like that. It makes it much easier to carry, not to mention discreet.

Now if I could just remember to keep doing it.

The Winter Chieftain

2007-12-09T08:02:00.000-04:00

At Yule, celebrate the coming of the Winter Chieftain.

His hooded robe is the dark green of the evergreen, trimmed in a red the colour of winter berries. The scarf around his neck is a tartan of green and red, gold and blue. His face is weathered and determined, and always eager to smile. The white streaking his dark hair and beard is the colour of freshly fallen snow. His strong hand grips a staff taller than he is. With each step, the ground beneath his feet fills with frost.

His heralds are the Hidden Wolves, all seeing yet unseen. Feel their presence as they prowl the world before him. Chickadees flit about his shoulders and head, whispering in his ear. Rabbits and hares run about his feet, and as he bends to stroke them he turns patches of their fur from brown to white.

Behind him come cold winds and heavy snows. The Trickster, which has likely prevented Winter from staying by confusing the warm winds, respectfully bows his head. In the months that follow, cold and snow will cover our lands.

Celebrate his coming. The memories you create this night must last through the hard times to come. Decorate your home with symbols of nature that live through the winter: evergreen, berries, and nuts. Cook a feast, and fill a plate with sweets. Build a fire in the hearth, and light many candles; place candles in the windows to invite and welcome visitors. Enjoy the company of family and friends.

Let the Winter Chieftain hear your laughter, your music, and the ringing of bells to know you wait for him. Be sure to leave an offering for him and his companions as they pass by your house. This night is the longest, and they have far to travel.

Celtic Tree Month of Elder

2007-11-30T21:45:00.000-04:00

ELDER LORE

13th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Nov 25 - Dec 23)
Latin name: Dwarf Elder - sambucus ebulus; Elderberry - sambucus canadenis.
Celtic name: Ruis (pronounced: roo ish).
Folk or Common names: Lady Elder, Elder, Elderberry, pipe tree, bore tree, bour tree, Eldrun, Hyldor, Hyllantree, Ellhorn, Sambucus.
Parts Used: Bark, leaves, flowers, berries, wood.
Herbal usage: The Elder has many medicinal uses, and can be used to treat over 70 conditions. The bark can be used fresh for headaches and to promote labor, or can be dried and powdered and used in small doses as a diuretic. The leaves and flowers can be made into drinks, poultices and salves. Elderberry flower water is useful for soothing sunburns. The berries are safe to eat when eaten ripe, and they can be used to make wines, jams and teas.
Magical History & Associations: The Elder is a tree of Venus and is associated with the element of air. The bird associated with the month of Elder is the rook, the color is blood-red, and the gemstone is dark green malachite. The Elder also is associated with Black Horses, Ravens, and Badgers. The Elder is linked to the eternal turnings of life and death, birth and rebirth, and creativity and renewal. It represents the end/beginning and beginning/end. It is sacred to the deities of Bran, Venus, Hel, Callech, Holda, the White Goddess, the Great Goddess, and Pryderi (The Celts believed that it was during the time of Elder that their sun or solar spirit was held prisoner, just as Pryderi was forced into exile). The Elder is the Old Crone aspect of the triple Goddess, wise old energy at the end of the year's cycle, and is sometimes called the "death tree" because of this. Funerary flints found in megalithic long barrows were Elder leaf shaped, suggesting the association of Elder with death goes back a long way. Elder is also called the "witch's tree" and certainly the village hedge-witch would have used the elder in healing and Magick. The Elder is also associated with a dryad (tree spirit). Early European legends tell of a dryad called Hylde-moer, The Elder Tree Mother, who lives in the Elder tree and watches over it. Should the tree be chopped down and furniture made of the wood, Hylde-moer would follow her property and haunt the owners. Similar tales tell that if a child's cradle were made of Elder, Hylde-moer would pinch the child black and blue and give it no peace or rest, therefore it is considered unlucky to make a cradle out of Elder wood. The Elder is also seen in a negative light by the Christian religion, since Judas supposed to have hanged himself from an Elder tree and the cross used to crucify Jesus was supposed to be made of Elder.
Magickal usage: The month of Elder includes the Winter Solstice, which is celebrated as the Sabbat of Yule, a day to mark the return of the Sun. Therefore, calling upon the Sun God or Goddess is good to do during this month. Elder has the Magickal powers of Healing, Visions, Faery Magick, Spirituality, Cleansing, Sleep, Exorcism, Offering, Love, Protection, and Prosperity. Elder is often used to produce visions. At Samhain, the last of the Elderberries were picked with solemn rites. The wine made from these berries was considered the last sacred gift of the Earth Goddess, and was valued and drunk ritually to invoke prophecy, divination and hallucinations. Elder twigs were woven into head-dresses to enable the wearers to see spirits. The Elder is very useful in Magick dealing with Nature Spirits and the Fae. Wood spirits are said to live in Elder forests, and wood elves are said to come to listen to music played by flutes made with Elder wood. The Elder has strong protective qualities. Tiny twigs of Elder or dried Elderberry can be worn in a bag around the neck as a charm for protection against physical or psychic attack. As a protection against evil (and later against witchcraft) Elder branches were hung in doorways of houses and cowsheds. Elder can be used to bless a person, place or thing by scattering leaves and berries to the four directions, and over the thing or person being blessed. It is said that if you stand under an Elder tree, you will never be struck by lightening. Elder was also buried in graves to ward off evil spirits, and is considered protection against earthbound, "physical" spirits like vampires. Elder as Vampire-Repellent is older folklore than the lore about garlic. When you put Elder on a threshold or windowsill, you can force a vampire to count over the thorns and the berries until morning comes, because vampires are obsessive-compulsive about counting things. Also, Elder blossom were worn at Beltane to signify witchcraft and magic, and Elder twigs can be used to undo evil magic. Elder is a traditional wood for making Magickal tools, like besoms and wands. It is said in Irish folklore that it is Elder and not Ash which is used by witches for their magic 'hobby horses' and besoms. Justice was often dispensed under an Elder, so the hilt of a coven sword was often made of Elder wood. Elder is also a good wood to use to make Protective Wands. There are very strong superstitions about not cutting down or burning an Elder (maybe caused by a fear of releasing the tree's Hylde-moer - or maybe out of a deep respect for the tree), so be sure to remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch. It is traditional to say this before you cut a branch:
"Lady Ellhorn, give me of thy wood,
And I will give thee of mine,
when I become a tree."
Some people like to leave a small gift of some kind when they do harvest a branch - or you can do something practical like untangling the tree's ivy, clearing up around the trunk, watering in dry weather, or tidying up trash from around the tree.

(from Sarah Nunn, aka Sarah the Swamp Witch.)